Netanyahu reported to tell ministers: If we don’t ensure humanitarian aid, whole world will be against us

Channel 12 reports further quotes from this morning’s cabinet meeting, when several ministers criticized the handling of the war amid the rising toll of fallen IDF soldiers.

Nir Barkat, the economy minister and a would-be Likud party leader and PM: “The number of Air Force bombardments has fallen dramatically. Soldiers are being sent to booby-trapped buildings like [sitting] ducks.”

Prime Minister Netanyahu: “The fact that you keep saying this doesn’t make it true. There are operational considerations.”

Barkat: “No consideration can justify our endangering the lives of our soldiers for some imaginary morality…”

Ministers also complained that IDF chief Herzi Halevi was not present to update them.

David Amsalem, a junior justice minister: “Where is the chief of staff? He hasn’t been here for two and a half months.”

Cabinet secretary Yossi Fuchs: “He came to the meeting that dealt with the deal to release hostages.”

Tourism Minister Haim Katz: “He hasn’t been since, to give an update, to give explanations.”

Amsalem: “Ultimately, the government is the forum that makes the decisions. This is the forum from which the other [smaller cabinet] bodies operate.”

Netanyahu (to Fuchs): “Please convey the ministers’ comments to the chief of staff. It would be appropriate for him to participate. This is the government of Israel.”

Channel 12 quotes a senior security source saying in response that “Halevi is running the war; comes to cabinet meetings; comes to meetings of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee; sends senior representatives…”

The ministers also argue over humanitarian aid entering Gaza:

Netanyahu: “We don’t directly provide them with fuel; it enters via other means.”

National Missions Minister Orit Strock: “That’s precisely the problem. Maybe the Shin Bet should distribute the food, so that Hamas won’t seize it.”

National Resilience Minister Yitzhak Wasserlauf: “How can it be that we send in humanitarian aid without them considering our hostages?”

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir: “In the north of the Strip, they didn’t get food and fuel and the number of IDF fallen was not as large as it is now. It’s part of their ammunition. There needs to be a reassessment.”

Netanyahu: “There are countries [whose positions] we have to take into account. If we don’t do that, eventually there’ll be a UN decision to impose a blockade on us. The whole world will be against us.”