A senior official in Gaza’s Resistance Security apparatus said on Sunday that eight members of armed gangs backed by the Israeli occupation have surrendered themselves to the relevant Palestinian authorities, following the announcement of a ten-day amnesty period.
In a press statement, the official said the individuals “turned themselves in voluntarily,” noting that the step came “after direct communication from several families and with clear support from local clans who withdrew their social protection from those involved, enabling their handover to the authorities.”
He stressed that “the door to repentance remains open for the remaining wanted persons during the announced period,” urging all those implicated to “take the opportunity to resolve their status in accordance with established procedures.”
The Israeli army has repeatedly intervened to protect these armed gangs during clashes with Palestinian resistance fighters and security forces, highlighting the extent of the protection offered and the army’s reliance on such groups to cultivate a security vacuum in the Gaza Strip.
Observers say many of the leaders of these Israeli-backed militias have criminal records and pre-existing ties with the Israeli military.