Ben Gvir asks PM to investigate Gallant over claims that soldiers were told to protect Qatari buildings in Gaza

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir accuses Defense Minister Yoav Gallant of unnecessarily endangering the lives of soldiers in Gaza and demands that he be summoned for an investigation by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

In a letter to Netanyahu, the leader of the ultranationalist Otzma Yehudit Party refers to allegations made by parents of soldiers that their sons were forced to carry out specific operations in the Strip that would minimize damage to Qatari-build infrastructure but increase the risk to the soldiers.

Ben Gvir also claims that the soldiers were tasked with “cleaning a Hamas hospital” while operating in the Palestinian enclave.

“Our best sons were not sent to die in battle so that Hamas supporters in Qatar wouldn’t have to be concerned for their assets, or so that Israel can receive a slightly less negative attitude from the international media — but to defeat Hamas and return the hostages,” Ben Gvir writes.

“There is no reason to endanger our heroic soldiers for public relations purposes and to flatter the Qataris.”

In light of the allegations, he writes, “I would like to immediately summon the defense minister for an investigation and order him to direct the army immediately to allow our fighters to operate freely, and eliminate the enemy and the buildings in which they are hiding, without unnecessary risk to their lives.”