Haaretz: Israel arms drug dealers to commit ‘war crimes’ and loot homes in Gaza

Haaretz: Israel arms drug dealers to commit ‘war crimes’ and loot homes in Gaza Submitted by MEE staff on Thu, 08/27/2026 - 12:16 Criminal gangs have expelled Palestinians and looted homes while serving as an 'operational arm' of Israel’s military Palestinians inspect the damage at the site of an Israeli air strike in Gaza City on 24 August (AFP/Omar Al Qattaa) Off The Israeli army is expanding its use of mercenaries, criminal gangs and drug dealers to commit “war crimes” on Israel’s behalf in Gaza, an investigation by the Israeli daily newspaper Haaretz has revealed. Based on testimony from Israeli soldiers, UN reports and satellite imagery, the investigation found that increasingly well-armed collaborator militias have expelled Palestinians from their homes and carried out operations across Gaza. Israel has trained at least five militia groups, and potentially a sixth, operating from heavily fortified bases inside Israeli-occupied areas of the enclave.