Israeli officials mull arming some Gaza civilians as aid security crumbles-report

Israeli officials have discussed arming some civilians in Gaza to provide security protection for aid convoys into the besieged enclave, as part of wider planning for humanitarian supplies after fighting ends, the Israel Hayom daily said on Friday. With civil order increasingly strained in Hamas-run Gaza and municipal police refusing to provide security to convoys because of the risk of being targeted by Israeli forces, the issue of secure distribution of supplies has become a major problem. The civilians would not be linked to militant groups including Hamas but it remained unclear who they might be, the newspaper said.