Ministers blast IDF chief in ‘ambush’ over Gaza, drone attack on Netanyahu – reports
Cabinet members assail Herzi Halevi, after reportedly deciding in pre-meeting huddle to berate him, demanding strong response to strike targeting PM’s Caesarea residence
Government ministers lashed out at IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi at a security cabinet meeting on Sunday, in what military officials described as a “coordinated ambush” planned in advance of the meeting by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to Hebrew media reports.
Ministers reportedly berated Halevi for a “too weak response” to Saturday’s drone attack by the Hezbollah terror group on Netanyahu’s residence in Caesarea, which the Prime Minister’s Office described as an attempted assassination.
Halevi defended the IDF’s response to Hezbollah thus far, reportedly telling the ministers, “We’ve managed to thwart many drones, we’ve strengthened our abilities, and we continue to learn and improve.”
Halevi also noted, “There was a response [to the drone attack]. Overnight we hit important targets in Beirut, in the heart of Dahiyeh,” referring to the Hezbollah stronghold in the Lebanese capital’s southern suburbs.
Regional Cooperation Minister David Amsalem, by way of suggesting a response to the drone attack, reportedly said, “It’s possible to destroy part of Dahiyeh each time they attempt something like this.”
The suggestion drew a sharp response from Halevi, who reportedly snapped back: “A target requires justification — we don’t destroy buildings for no reason.” Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara added, “Destroying property without justification is a war crime.”
“And suppose we run out of targets, and they continue to launch hundreds of rockets and missiles every day — we’ll give them a big hug?” Amsalem reportedly retorted.
Members of the government have frequently assailed military and security leaders in the year since Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack, accusing them of failing in their duty to thwart the terror group.
Netanyahu has not publicly accepted direct personal responsibility for October 7 and has blocked the establishment of a state commission of inquiry into the catastrophe.
On Sunday, ministers also assailed the IDF chief for failing to move more humanitarian aid into Gaza, asking, “What’s so complicated about getting aid in? Why haven’t you done it already?” according to Hebrew media.
This question, too, drew a sharp response from Halevi, who was said to have answered, “I don’t have surplus manpower for those missions.
“You want our soldiers to get injured distributing sacks of flour in [central Gaza’s] Nuseirat?” he asked, reportedly adding. “I need every soldier for combat in Gaza and in Lebanon.”As for distributing aid, “international organizations will do this,” he said.
The issue of aid has been a thorn in the side of US-Israel relations since the start of the war, which began with Hamas’s attack last year. The issue has re-emerged in recent weeks amid a threat by the US to withdraw its military help.
In the cabinet meeting Sunday, ministers stressed the gravity of the apparent attempt on Netanyahu’s life the day earlier.
“This was a crazy event. In no war has there been an attempt to assassinate the prime minister,” said Energy Minister Eli Cohen. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said the drone attack had “mega-strategic” significance.
The unmanned vehicle, launched from Lebanon, targeted the prime minister’s home when he was not present. Netanyahu declared that evening that the attack was a “bitter mistake” by “agents of Iran.”
No injuries were sustained in the incident, although foreign reports said the residence was hit and took minor damage. The IDF said the drone was one of three launched from Lebanon, and that the other two were shot down.
When Netanyahu solicited thoughts on how Israel should respond to the attack, Transportation Minister Miri Regev reportedly declared, “We have to attack Iran directly,” while National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir reportedly called to “take down major figures in the region.”
Agriculture Minister Avi Dichter and Justice Minister Yariv Levin reportedly called for an attack on “state symbols of Lebanon, in Lebanon.”
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant reportedly quipped to his colleagues, “I would recommend we eliminate [Hezbollah leader Hassan] Nasrallah and the Hezbollah chain of command — but we already did that.”
The meeting on Sunday also included a discussion of a proposed limited hostage-ceasefire deal with Hamas, under which a small number of Israeli captives would go free in exchange for a two-week truce.
Israel is pursuing the limited proposal alongside efforts to reach a broader deal to end the fighting in Gaza and Lebanon in exchange for the release of all Israeli hostages, an Israeli official told The Times of Israel this week.
Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar visited Egypt on Sunday to discuss the possibility of a deal, and updated the cabinet on his trip. Ministers remain pessimistic about the chances of an agreement, however, according to Hebrew reports.
The cabinet also addressed issues related to UNRWA, the United Nations agency responsible for aid to the Palestinians.
The body has been linked to Hamas operatives, and Israel alleges it bears complicity in some of the terror group’s actions — just last week, Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was killed with the passport of an UNRWA school teacher in his possession.
In July, the Knesset approved the first reading of a trio of bills aimed at shutting down the agency.
Though the ministers are in agreement about the problems with UNRWA, Foreign Ministry representatives cautioned that efforts to target the agency via legislation could have serious diplomatic fallout, reports said.
Not only does Israel face pressure from the United States to cooperate with UNRWA, but obstructing the agency could violate the UN charter, the representatives warned, which could even lead to Israel’s expulsion from the UN.
The ministers on Sunday delayed a discussion into demands to allow the International Red Cross to visit suspected Hamas terrorists captured during the October 7, 2023 attack, Hebrew media reported.
Lazar Berman contributed to this report.
