Israel’s far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich harshly criticized the cabinet’s decision of allowing some aid into Gaza, according to Reuters.
Smotrich described the move as a “grave mistake” and it would benefit the militant Palestinian group Hamas.
He also accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of failing to guarantee that Israel’s military is committed to government directives in prosecuting the war against Hamas in Gaza.
“… the cabinet and the Prime Minister made a grave mistake yesterday in approving the entry of aid through a route that also benefits Hamas,” Smotrich said on X.
Crucially, the minister announced that he is still determining his “next steps” refrained from explicitly threatening to withdraw from the coalition.
The Israeli government has not revealed any changes to its aid policy in Gaza. However, Israeli media reported that the government had voted to allow more aid to enter northern Gaza.
At the same time, Israel accuses Hamas of stealing aid for the sake of its own fighters or to sell to finance its operations.
Smotrich’s remarks come a day before Netanyahu’s coming talks with President Donald Trump in Washington to secure a 60-day Gaza ceasefire.
The talks come in a crucial time as Israel is facing mounting pressure to end the war and maintain a permanent ceasefire.
Since the beginning of Hamas-Israel War in Gaza in 2023, the Israeli strikes have killed more than 57,000 Palestinians and wounded more than 118,000, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
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