Top coalition official Deri said to slam vote to stay in Philadelphi as ‘big mistake’

Shas party leader Aryeh Deri, one of the closest political allies of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has in recent days voiced criticism of the Netanyahu-pushed security cabinet vote in favor of remaining in the Philadelphi Corridor under any deal, according to the Kan public broadcaster.

“The vote on Thursday was a big mistake that tied our hands,” the outlet quotes Deri as telling the premier in a recent closed meeting, without citing a source.

“But from the moment we voted and what happened happened, we must not change the decision,” he reportedly added, referring to Hamas’s murder of six hostages whose bodies were later recovered by the IDF.

Deri is not a voting member of the security cabinet and didn’t take part in Thursday’s vote, but he does frequently take part in its meetings.

Shas and Netanyahu refuse to comment on the content of the report.