Armed Clans in Gaza Are a Political Minefield, but Israel Waits

The armed Bedouin clans in Gaza, which fought Hamas's military wing and inflicted casualties, now help secure the yellow line. The security establishment is divided over their future: some support keeping them under IDF responsibility, while the Peace Council, with US backing, demands their disarmament. The political echelon avoids deciding, and there are fears that disarming them will lead to a return of smuggling.

The armed Bedouin clans operating in several sectors of the Gaza Strip constitute a political minefield for Israel. According to security sources, at their peak they fought Hamas's military wing and inflicted many casualties. Since the ceasefire, they have been assisting in securing the yellow line, locating weapons and terrorist infrastructure. There is a dispute within the security establishment: one security source described their activity as "intimate, kept in the shadows, and good that it is so," and effective. But others warn of the risks of cultivating them, as in the past their commanders were involved in criminal activity. Senior members of the Peace Council, with US backing, want to disarm them "the day after," while others plan to keep them on the yellow line under IDF responsibility. The political echelon is not rushing to address the issue and holds it as a stick against Hamas and the Peace Council. A source warned that disarmament would lead to a return of smuggling. In September 2025, the clans demonstrated governance and deployed hundreds of activists against Hamas mechanisms, including the "Arrow Unit" dealing with arrests and killing of collaborators.