Despite repeated promises, Prime Minister Netanyahu and the political-security cabinet have once again caved, approving the entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip, even as Israeli hostages remain starving in Hamas tunnels.
The Prime Minister’s Office attempted to justify the move, stating: “Israel will allow a minimal amount of food into the Gaza Strip to prevent a humanitarian crisis that could jeopardize the continuation of Operation ‘Gideon Chariots’ aimed at defeating Hamas.”
According to the statement, the decision was made based on IDF recommendations and reflects an operational necessity to expand the military campaign. It also stressed that “Israel will act to prevent Hamas from seizing the aid, ensuring it does not reach terrorist hands.”
Good luck with that.
Since ancient times, armies have sought to cut off an enemy’s food supply to force surrender through hunger. This strategy continued well into the modern era, employed during sieges and blockades in conflicts such as the American Civil War and both World Wars.
Following World War II, the Rome Statute classified the use of starvation as a weapon as a war crime, a principle rooted in humanitarian ideals. While undoubtedly noble in intention, this prohibition also removes one of the most time-tested and effective military strategies. Ironically, by disallowing such tactics, wars are prolonged, potentially increasing the overall number of casualties, both civilian and military.
NETANYAHU UNILATERAL
According to sources present at the political-security cabinet meeting, following the Prime Minister’s announcement, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir demanded a formal vote on the decision but was promptly overruled by Netanyahu. National Security Council head Tzachi Hanegbi reportedly went so far as to accuse Ben Gvir of inciting mutiny.
Following the cabinet meeting, Minister Itamar Ben Gvir declared: “Any humanitarian aid entering the Gaza Strip will inevitably fuel Hamas and give it oxygen, while our hostages continue to languish in the tunnels. The Prime Minister is making a grave mistake with this decision, and he doesn’t even have a majority backing it. Hamas must be crushed, not sustained with lifelines that enable its survival.”
A senior source told Haaretz that the Prime Minister’s move is intended as a “temporary, week-long measure” until distribution centers for humanitarian aid in Gaza are fully established.
Good luck with that one, too.
Last week, an aid fund established with the backing of the U.S. government announced that it would begin operating a new system for distributing humanitarian aid to Gaza residents by the end of May. In its statement, the fund said it was “in the final stages of purchasing a large amount of food” and projected that distribution in the first 90 days would surpass 300 million meals, describing the effort as one of the “largest emergency food distributions in the region’s history.”
Until the new system is in place, sources familiar with the details confirmed that Israel has agreed to continue allowing aid through existing channels—namely, the United Nations and other humanitarian organizations working in coordination with it.
THE RIGHT IS SHOCKED
Channel 14 news presenter Shimon Riklin voiced harsh criticism of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying: “Instead of doing what’s right, instead of standing by the very principles he himself once wrote about in the fight against terror, instead of listening to the right – Netanyahu chooses to cave to pressure from Kaplan (the common nickname to the protesters who often congregate on Kaplan Street in Tel Aviv – DI). It’s illogical, immoral, unthinkable, and simply cannot go on.”
The “Reservists – Generation of Victory” movement, representing thousands of reserve officers and soldiers from across all branches of the IDF, issued a sharp condemnation of the continued and expanded transfer of so-called “humanitarian” aid into the Gaza Strip.
The movement stated that this policy is unacceptable while IDF soldiers are still actively engaged in combat, suffering injuries, and falling in the line of duty. They proclaimed:
“The transfer of supplies that in practice serve our enemies, under the guise of humanitarian aid, constitutes a direct blow to our soldiers and to public trust. It is unacceptable that the State of Israel would prioritize the well-being of the enemy while its sons and daughters are risking their lives daily in battle. Such actions undermine national resolve, project weakness, and call into question the very objectives of this war.
“We, as reservists who have chosen to continue serving out of a deep sense of mission and national responsibility, demand that the government and defense establishment immediately halt all aid to the enemy — humanitarian or otherwise — as long as our soldiers remain under fire, hostages are held captive, and Hamas has not been decisively defeated.
“As we have said since the beginning of the war, ending this war without a complete and decisive victory will lead to another October 7-style massacre in the near future. Victory in Gaza means the emigration of the strip’s population and the permanent conquest of territory — certainly not the refueling of Hamas. The reservist fighters will hold accountable anyone who chooses to render their efforts meaningless.”
