A heated debate ensued during the security cabinet meeting on Tuesday on the topic of the distribution of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.
Defense Minister Israel Katz told the ministers that aid would not enter in the same methods as before, saying, “This only strengthens Hamas. Aid will be distributed by IDF soldiers or American companies instead.”
In response, IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir said that “IDF soldiers will not distribute humanitarian aid, and we will not starve the Gaza Strip.”
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said in return, “What do you mean? You follow orders. The IDF does not choose its own missions. If you are saying you are incapable of appointing someone to do this, then you can be replaced.”
Katz also said, “There is no need to send aid to Gaza because there are enough supplies there right now. I oppose sending any aid that might be linked to Hamas or that might reach it, assist it, or be used as a weapon to control the population and build terrorist infrastructure against IDF soldiers.”
During the cabinet meeting, ministers such as Ze’ev Elkin, Orit Strock, Eli Cohen, Justice Minister Yariv Levin, and Innovation, Science, and Technology Minister Gila Gamliel were surprised by the plans presented by Zamir and the Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT).
The ministers criticized the humanitarian aid distribution plans, saying: “The principle must be that Hamas cannot get its hands on the aid being distributed. Aid must only be distributed in areas under full IDF control, where it is possible to prevent the aid from reaching Hamas.”
Gaza’s civilian population must move to areas under full IDF control to receive the aid. Aid must not reach areas that do not meet this definition, they said.
Some ministers said that any other approach would only strengthen Hamas instead of dismantling its civilian governance. They added that the presentation and plans that were suggested contradict this demand, which has been repeatedly stated in discussions over the past few months.
Zamir and the COGAT said in response: “We won’t be ready in time to distribute the aid in this manner.” The defense minister supported their position.
During the discussion, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not comment on the matter and only concluded by saying: “The military’s leadership has until Thursday to present a plan that meets the demands that have been raised here.”
A statement issued by a diplomatic source on Wednesday said that “no decision has been made regarding the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza.”
“The political echelon has instructed the defense establishment and the IDF to prevent Hamas from having any control over the humanitarian aid,” the statement added.
Civilian effort in Gaza
On Wednesday, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich addressed the debate at the cabinet meeting, saying, “Managing the civilian effort in Gaza in a way that does not reach Hamas was and remains the most critical component for defeating Hamas and achieving victory in the war.”
The minister added that his complaints were not directed at Zamir but rather at Netanyahu “for not enforcing the government’s policy in the IDF.”
“Introducing logistical aid that will reach Hamas is a step that I will not be part of, period,” Smotrich said.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir also commented on the discussion in a post on X/Twitter on Wednesday.
“It is a fundamentally foolish debate,” he wrote, “because not a single gram of aid should be allowed into the Gaza Strip – not by an external company and not by IDF soldiers – as long as our hostages are held there.”
Opposition leader Yair Lapid referred to the heated discussion that occurred during the meeting in a Wednesday post on X/Twitter.
“It is time to face the facts: This government is incapable of winning the war,” he wrote.
Lapid added that government ministers were now attacking a chief of staff of their choosing, creating conflicts in the cabinet.
Meanwhile, an Israeli delegation is expected to depart in the coming days for talks aimed at advancing a hostage deal, a source familiar with the details told The Jerusalem Post.
Sources informed on the matter told the Post that there has been no change in Hamas’s position regarding the deal. The terrorist organization has made it clear to mediators from Egypt and Qatar that “it would not agree to a deal that includes a temporary ceasefire.”
Israel said it will only agree to a deal in which 10-11 hostages would be released in exchange for a 45-day ceasefire.Netanyahu has said that Israel would not agree to end the war, as Hamas is demanding.
Nevertheless, the stance of the political echelon, including the prime minister, is that efforts to secure a deal should be exhausted while maintaining the current combat strategy and advancing to the next phase.
This position contrasts with that of some ministers in the security cabinet who are demanding a shift toward dismantling Hamas.
On Tuesday, Qatar’s Prime Minister, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, met in Washington with US President Donald Trump, Steve Witkoff, the US special envoy to the Middle East, and several senior administration officials.
US administration officials said a deal could be reached soon. Trump said on Monday, “We will see what happens with Gaza,” but added, “Hamas will have no role in governing Gaza.”