Welcome to The Times of Israel’s newest podcast series, Friday Focus. Each Friday, join diplomatic reporter Lazar Berman and host deputy editor Amanda Borschel-Dan for a deep dive into what’s behind the news that spins the globe.
It came out late last week that Israel has been arming a criminal gang in the Gaza Strip as part of an effort to strengthen opposition to Hamas in the enclave.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the use of such forces spares the lives of IDF soldiers. Defense sources have confirmed that Israel has been arming the gang with Kalashnikov rifles, including some that were seized from Hamas during the ongoing war.
More from Friday Focus
July 11, 2025Friday Focus: Former hostage Keith Siegel wants to have hope
July 4, 2025Friday Focus with Lazar Berman and guest John Spencer: Is the IDF winning in Gaza?
June 27, 2025Friday Focus with Lazar Berman: Israel-Iran war's aftershocks for Russia and China
June 20, 2025Friday Focus with Lazar Berman: How Israel stopped the bomb in 1981 and 2007
June 6, 2025Friday Focus with Lazar Berman: 10 truths about the Gaza war, 20 months in
This conversation can be viewed here:
In this week’s Friday Focus discussion, Berman delves into the man heading this Gaza mafia, Yasser Abu Shabab, a former drug smuggler turned humanitarian aid looter during the war. In footage published online by Abu Shabab, members of the group can be seen wearing military-style uniforms with the Palestinian flag and the words “Counter-Terrorism Mechanism” emblazoned on them.
Berman discusses the military concepts of insurgency and counterinsurgency and refers to Israel’s history in employing them in Lebanon. We hear the lessons learned by the United States in its Iraq war and how Israel could expand upon its support for local Gazan forces to fill the vacuum left by Hamas.
Friday Focus can be found on all podcast platforms. This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves and the video was edited by Thomas Girsch.
Check out last week’s Friday Focus:
The Times of Israel Community.