The gangster Israel is arming to fight Hamas
His group is notorious for stealing aid and is widely disliked by Palestinians
HE LOOKS more like a teenager playing soldier than a would-be warlord: his ballistic helmet too big for his head, his assault rifle too spotless. His militia calls itself the Popular Forces, a lofty name for a group led by one of Gaza’s least popular men: his own family has disowned him.
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This article appeared in the Middle East & Africa section of the print edition under the headline “Enemy of my enemy”
From the June 14th 2025 edition
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Donald Trump’s approach to Africa is very, well, African
What a meeting with five leaders says about his administration’s interest in the continent
Ending the war in Gaza is still fiendishly difficult
Donald Trump and Israel’s generals are pressing Binyamin Netanyahu to make a deal
The Israel-Iran war has not yet transformed the Middle East
Peace deals may be elusive, and Gulf states fear the war is far from over
Kenya’s president is bad news for Kenya and Africa
William Ruto’s tenure is a how-to guide for sowing cynicism about democracy
Iran’s “axis of resistance” was meant to be the Shias’ NATO
But today transnational political Shiism is struggling for its survival
Israel’s weird war clock: 12 days for Iran, 21 months in Gaza
Making peace with the Palestinians looks much harder than with Iran’s regime or Shias in Lebanon