Israel's 'Proxy' Problems: Turns Out Mercenaries Expect Payment

Israel's latest brilliant notion for 'post-Hamas' Gaza governance involved propping up local clans, notably the Dughmush family, with the aim of creating a friendly proxy force. The New Arab reveals this gem of a plan went predictably awry with the assassination of purported leader Yasser Abu Shabab, allegedly by Hamas, underscoring exactly how well a strategy based on 'local strongmen' without

actual local legitimacy works (spoiler: it doesn't). This echoes the 'South Lebanon Army' playbook—a proxy force created and funded by Israel that ultimately collapsed with Israel's withdrawal from Lebanon in 2000, leaving its members to flee or face consequences. Yet, like a broken record, the same 'security' establishment that consistently claims Israel has 'no partner for peace' always manages

to find partners for chaos. They demand 'acceptable' Palestinian leadership, then systematically undermine any that gains popular support, leaving only those who can be bought or coerced. The current Dughmush clan gambit is just another chapter in a long history of attempting to manage occupation with collaborators, proving once again that a population under siege isn't suddenly going to embrace

handlers from the power that's bombing them. How many times does this need to fail before someone in Tel Aviv realizes supporting local governance actually means supporting LOCAL governance, not a puppet show?

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