The Air Force officer who spoke with Haaretz stressed: “The State of Israel, the Israel Defense Forces, and the Shin Bet send armed and trained militias to commit war crimes, and I am the one who has to protect them during their operations so that they are not harmed.”

Soldiers told Haaretz that the militias participate in IDF operations. An Air Force officer stated that the IDF sends militiamen to hard-to-reach areas inside the territory controlled by Hamas, even to recover drones used for smuggling. "They tell them: 'Bring us the drone and keep whatever is inside.' Whether it's weapons or drugs, they take everything."