Liberman: There is no humanitarian crisis in the Strip; Israel won’t spend a penny

Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman says “there is no humanitarian crisis” in the Gaza Strip and Israel will not step in to improve the enclave’s deteriorating living conditions.

At the weekly Yisrael Beytenu faction meeting, the defense minister says there is “disinformation” on the enclave.

“The situation in Gaza is indeed difficult,” concedes Liberman, and the economic situation “must be dealt with.”

“But there is no humanitarian crisis,” he adds, noting he is speaking on behalf of the entire defense establishment, including COGAT and the Shin Bet security agency, which is unanimous on the issue.

“We will not spend a penny from the Israeli budget” toward Gaza, stresses Liberman. “There are enough wealthy Arab countries.”

He brands calls for immediate Israeli intervention “a mistake.”

Hamas is sure “Israel will blink first” and step in to aid the troubled enclave, says the defense minister.

“We cannot take responsibility for the Strip,” says Liberman.

The defense minister further says any talk of rehabilitation without progress on returning Israel’s captives in Gaza is “immoral.”

There will be no rehabilitation without the total disarmament of the Strip, says Liberman.

He says the Hamas terrorist group has invested $260 million for rocket-building and tunnel construction in the Gaza Strip in the past year. Of that, $100 million came from Iran and the remainder from Gaza taxes.

The Hamas leadership is unwilling to “divert even a shekel” to fix its water and electricity woes, says Liberman, while its leaders have electricity “24 hours a day.”

Liberman also rejects reports by Hamas that Israel is planning an imminent military incursion of the Strip. “We have no intention to initiate any military action in Gaza,” he says.

— Marissa Newman