Gallant accuses PM’s office of neglecting plan to transfer sick Gazan children via Israel

The public fight between Yoav Gallant and Benjamin Netanyahu over plans to build a field hospital for Gazan children continues, with the defense minister accusing the prime minister’s staff of failing to advance the original plan to send sick and injured children abroad through Israel.

According to a statement from Gallant’s office, Netanyahu accepted the minister’s recommendation that complex cases be sent abroad by way of Israel. Gallant claims that he turned to the Prime Minister’s Office and National Security Council asking for a directive to all relevant ministries to cooperate on the plan.

“Despite the clear directive from the prime minister to enact the defense minister’s proposal,” claims Gallant’s office, “a discussion on the topic was canceled and the NSC’s instruction was not sent.”

He says that because of the pressing need to make a decision, Gallant announced yesterday the establishment of an Israeli field hospital for Gazan children.

“Only after the defense minister’s directive to establish a field hospital did the NSC remember to respond to his request and adopt his proposal to transfer the complicated patients from Gaza to a third country via Israel,” says Gallant’s office.

Earlier today, Netanyahu said he sent a missive to Gallant saying that he will not approve the establishment of a field hospital in Israel to treat Gazan children.

Gallant’s office had said the need to establish it was due to the extended closure of Gaza’s Rafah crossing into Egypt. The crossing has been closed since Israeli forces captured it in early May. Egypt has refused to reopen the crossing while the Gazan side remains under Israeli control.