Report: Eisenkot says PM won’t make decisions on Gaza, so 60% of aid ends up in Hamas’s hands

Minister Gadi Eisenkot, an observer in the war cabinet, reportedly attacked Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a faction meeting of his National Unity party, saying the premier was not making decisions on the future of Gaza, to the benefit of Hamas.

“Netanyahu is not deciding who will replace Hamas and this leads to the fact that about 60% of the aid ends up in the hands of Hamas,” Eisenkot said, according to the Kan public broadcaster.

“When a prime minister takes their time and does not make decisions on the important issues, Hamas restores some of its capabilities, returns to the north of the Gaza Strip, and takes over the humanitarian aid,” he said.

“I keep bringing up the issue of distributing humanitarian aid, but there are no results,” he reportedly told the meeting.

The military establishment has warned political leaders that Hamas has begun reestablishing its capabilities for civil governance in parts of northern and central Gaza where some Israeli forces have been withdrawn.

Security sources have told Kan in the past that the government’s refusal to deliberate “the day after” in Gaza was helping create the space for Hamas to restore civil rule in parts of Gaza. The matter has reportedly been raised during at least one meeting of the security cabinet, but no decisions were made.