Defense Minister Yisrael Katz issued a clarification this morning (Wednesday) stating that there is no intention to bring humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip at this stage - after receiving harsh criticism from the coalition.
In his statement, Katz clarified: "Israel's policy is clear and no humanitarian aid is about to enter Gaza, and preventing humanitarian aid to Gaza is one of the main pressure tools that prevents Hamas from using this measure against the population, in addition to the other steps that Israel is taking - and it's a shame that there are those who try to mislead.".
He added: "No one is prepared in the current reality to bring any humanitarian aid into Gaza, and we are not preparing to bring in any aid of this type. I emphasized that in relation to the future, the mechanism for using civil society must be built as a tool that will not allow Hamas access to the issue in the future.".
Earlier today, Katz presented Israel's policy principles in the campaign in the Gaza Strip. As part of the effort to change the reality on the ground, he clarified that Israel is working to stop humanitarian aid that undermines Hamas' control over the local population, and is promoting a new distribution infrastructure through civil societies. The minister's statement stated that Israel is preparing to "create an infrastructure for distribution through civil societies in the future.".
The statement immediately sparked outrage from within the coalition.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir expressed strong opposition: "It's a shame we don't learn from mistakes. As long as our hostages are languishing in the tunnels, there is no reason for a single gram of food or aid of any kind to enter Gaza. Stopping aid is one of the main levers of pressure on Hamas, and returning it before Hamas gets on its knees and releases all our hostages would be a historic mistake.".
He added: "I will do everything in my power to ensure that this historic mistake does not happen, and I call on the Prime Minister and the Minister of Defense not to take this foolish step, which will harm the ability to defeat Hamas and return all of our hostages safely.".
Minister of Culture and Sports Miki Zohar responded: "The despicable murderers in Gaza deserve no humanitarian assistance, neither from a civilian nor a military mechanism. Only incendiary fire on the perpetrators of terror until the last of our brothers and sisters in captivity return home in peace.".
MK Zvi Sukkot of the Religious Zionist Party said: "There is no reason in the world that we would send a gram of aid to Gaza while our hostages are languishing in captivity. Certainly not when Hamas is flouting every possible international law and there are hostages who need urgent medical treatment. Humanitarian only for humanitarian purposes, and even then, never in the hands of Hamas.".
Sukkot then wrote: "I understand that this is a false framing and there is no intention to renew aid to Gaza. The Minister of Defense - whom I greatly appreciate - issued a statement that they are preparing to establish such a mechanism in case we need to bring in aid in the future, and then it will not happen through Hamas, as happened criminally in the past. We continue on the path to victory and the return of the kidnapped.".
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