Far-right lawmakers accuse Gallant of allowing Hamas to maintain its rule of Gaza

Far-right members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s cabinet slam Yoav Gallant after the former defense minister warns that taking responsibility for the distribution of humanitarian aid in Gaza could drag Israel down the path of military governance in Gaza.

“Tonight it was proven once again how well the Prime Minister did when he fired the failed Defense Minister Gallant,” National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir declares — stating that “the IDF’s control over the humanitarian aid to the residents of Gaza is necessary in order to dismantle Hamas” and remove its last vestiges of control.

Finance Minister and Religious Zionism head Bezalel Smotrich, meanwhile, accuses him of allowing Hamas “to maintain its rule” in the Palestinian enclave.

“For a whole year, Gallant imagined a non-existent ‘alternative entity’ that would do the work for us, and actually stopped us from taking responsibility for the distribution of humanitarian aid,” Smotrich says.

He charges that when no alternative entity appeared, the now-ousted defense minister “allowed Hamas to take control of the humanitarian aid and maintain its rule in the Strip, resulting in the continuation of the war.”

“It is not the delivery of humanitarian aid that will lead to casualties, nor will it be the military government, should one be necessary,” the far-right minister continues. “Instead, it will be the fear of total victory and of the seizure of territory that is necessary for security.”

Smotrich has been a vocal proponent of Israeli rule in the Gaza Strip, and has opposed deals that would ensure the release of the hostages in exchange for a ceasefire.

Earlier today, he justified the economic impact that imposing a military government in Gaza would have on Israel, claiming in an interview with Kan Radio that it would merely cost “a few hundred million shekel.”