A heated debate committed suicide at the meeting of the security firm Tuesday on the subject of the distribution of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.
Defense Minister Israel Katz told ministers that aid would not have entered the same methods as before.
“It strengthens Hamas. Help will be distributed by TSAhal soldiers or American companies.”
Chief of staff of TDS, lieutenant-general. Eyal Zamir quickly replied that “FDI soldiers will not distribute humanitarian aid, and we will not die from the Gaza Strip”.
The Minister of Finance, Bezalel Smotrich, asked, “What do you mean? You follow orders. The FDIs do not choose his own missions. If you say that you are unable to appoint someone, then you can be replaced”.
Katz has also said with regard to aid: “There is no need for Gaza help because there is enough supply to Gaza. In the future, I oppose any aid that will be linked to Hamas or which will reach Hamas, aid and will be used as a weapon to control the population and build terroral infrastructures against TDI soldiers.”
During the meeting of the cabinet, ministers such as Elkin, Strock, Eli Cohen, Yariv Levin and Gila Gamliel were surprised by the plans presented by the chief of staff of the FDI and Cogat (coordinator of government activities in the territories).
The ministers have criticized the distribution plans of humanitarian aid, declaring: “The principle must be that Hamas cannot get their hands on distribution aid. It should only be distributed in areas under full control of FDIs, where it is possible to prevent aid from reaching Hamas.”
“The idea is that the civilian population moves to areas under the complete control of FDIs to receive aid. Aid should not reach areas that do not respond to this definition.”
Some ministers have argued that any other approach would only strengthen Hamas instead of dismantling its civil governance, and declared that the presentation and the plans presented “contradict this request, which has been stated several times in the discussions in recent months”.
The FDI and Cogat chief of staff responded to the ministers: “We will not be ready in time to distribute the aid in this way.” The Minister of Defense supported his position. During the discussion, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not comment on the issue and concluded only saying: “Military leadership has until Thursday to present a plan that responds to requests raised at the table.”
A press release published by a diplomatic source said on Wednesday that no decision was made regarding the entry of humanitarian aid to Gaza ”.
“The Political Echelon asked the defense establishment and the FDI to refuse Hamas control over any humanitarian aid in any situation that could develop,” added the statement.
Slams Bar Smotrich
During Tuesday’s discussion, Smotrich, who said he would not participate in the discussion and meeting the head of the bari of Shin (Israel Security Agency) Ronen Bar because of his refusal to leave his post after the government’s decision to withdraw it, said at Bar when he intervened in one of the discussions at the meeting of the cabinet: I don’t understand –
“He will have time to speak under the protection of the high court – people cannot just interrupt whenever they want.” Smotrich also left the meeting during the bar remarks.
On Wednesday, Smotrich discussed the debate at the meeting of the cabinet, noting: “Managing the civil effort in Gaza in a way that does not reach Hamas was and remains the most critical element to defeat Hamas and win the victory in the war”.
The minister added that his complaints were not addressed to Zamir but rather to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “for not having applied the implementation of government policy on the FDI”.
“The introduction of logistical aid that reaches Hamas is a step of which I will not be part. Period,” said Smotrich.
The Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir also commented on the discussion in an article on X. “It is a fundamentally stupid debate,” he wrote, “because no gram of aid should be allowed to enter the band as long as our hostages are held there-not by an external company, not by TDI soldiers.
רואה את הדיו Ardistoire סיוע, כל עוד חטופינו מוחזקים שם – לא בידי חברה חיצונית, ולא בידי ח Dustrie
– איתמר בן גביר (@itamarbengvir) April 23, 2025
The head of the opposition Yair Lapid referred to the animated discussion that occurred during the meeting in a post Wendesday on X / Twitter. “It is time to face the facts: this government is unable to win the war,” said Lapid, adding that the government’s ministers now attacked a chief of staff of their choice, creating conflicts in the cabinet.
אז עכשיו שרי הממשלה תוקפ taken היה להם שנה וחצי, קיבלו גב מ staff מהאמריקאים, גב מהאופוזיה, silver
– יאיר לפיד – Yair Lapid (@YAIRLAPI) April 23, 2025
