‘Insanity’: Netanyahu blasted by hawkish politicians, groups for resuming Gaza aid

Right-wing politicians and groups assail Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s abrupt decision to resume humanitarian aid to all parts of the Gaza Strip.

“Every humanitarian aid that enters the Strip, and definitely all parts of it, will fuel Hamas and give it oxygen while our hostages languish in tunnels,” laments National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, who earlier this year bolted the government over the announcement of a ceasefire-hostage deal, and then returned when fighting resumed.

“The prime minister is making a grave mistake with this move, which doesn’t even have a majority,” Ben Gvir argues in a statement. “We must crush Hamas and not simultaneously give it oxygen.”

In a separate post on X, Ben Gvir says: “Mr. Prime Minister, our hostages have no humanitarian [aid]!”

Heritage Minister Amichay Eliyahu, of Ben Gvir’s far-right Otzma Yehudit party, says: “This is our tragedy with Netanyahu’s approach. A leader who could have led to a clear victory and been remembered as the one who defeated radical Islam, but who time after time lets this historic opportunity slip away. Letting humanitarian aid in now directly harms the war effort to achieve victory and another obstacle to the release of the hostages.”

The Tikva Forum, which represents a hawkish group of families of hostages held in Gaza, says it is “shocked” by the decision “to give Hamas a gift without getting anything back, while our loved ones have been starved for almost 600 days.”

The forum urges Ben Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich to work against the step, adding: “If a drop of supplies gets to the enemy, this isn’t only a betrayal of the hostages, but also a stab in the back of the IDF fighters who are currently risking their lives in the war.”

Criticism also comes from the ranks of Netanyahu’s own Likud party.

“Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results,” says MK Avichai Boaron. “We mustn’t hand humanitarian aid to the enemy, we mustn’t hesitate.”

MK Moshe Saada said that calling up five IDF divisions while also allowing aid in that will help Hamas “is an incorrect and immoral decision.” He calls for “totally eradicating Hamas and not helping it survive.”

Centrist leader Benny Gantz of the opposition accuses Netanyahu of “hiding behind the IDF and the security establishment when making decisions that destabilize his coalition.”

“When it’s uncomfortable — ‘The IDF recommended.’ In successes — ‘I gave the order.’ This is a frightened leadership that is incapable of standing behind its own decisions, and national irresponsibility during wartime. Israeli citizens deserve a different leadership that knows how to stand before the public and speak the truth, even when it’s difficult,” Gantz adds.

The Tzav 9 group, which previously blocked aid trucks en route to Gaza, calls on its activists to resume these actions.

“Netanyahu, this is on you. Hamas can’t be pampered and given aid until the last hostage is back here,” says the right-wing organization, which was sanctioned last year by the Biden administration before this was reversed by the Trump administration.