Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz today sent a sharp message to the army's top commander to emphasize that it must follow the government's policy, the Israeli news agency TPS reported, quoted by BTA.
Katz's statement comes in the context of growing tension between the government and the military over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's stated intentions for a full occupation of the Gaza Strip.
„Once the political class makes the necessary decisions, the military leadership […] will demonstrate professionalism and implement the decisions already made. "My role as defense minister, responsible for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), is to ensure that this is exactly what happens," Katz said during a visit to a military post in the Gaza buffer zone.
He said bluntly: "I will make sure that you implement our decision."
The comments came after reports that Israeli army chief of staff Eyal Zamir was opposed to a plan to completely occupy the Gaza Strip. Senior defense officials have warned that such a move could prolong the war and endanger Israeli hostages. The Israeli army currently controls about 75 percent of the territory. The plans would see the troops take over the rest of Gaza and impose full military control over the entire strip.
The government will discuss the matter in a limited capacity tonight, with a wider cabinet meeting expected to take a decision later in the week.
Foreign Minister Gideon Saar defended Zamir's right to present his professional judgment, but stressed that the army is still subordinate to civilian leadership. "The chief of staff is obliged to express his professional position clearly and unambiguously," Saar said. “He is not required to clarify the subordination of the military leadership to government decisions, because that is obvious - certainly to someone who has served the country in uniform for decades“.
Earlier in the day, Israel announced a new mechanism for a gradual and careful resumption of imports of goods into the Gaza Strip through the private sector, marking a significant shift in its humanitarian aid policy to bypass "Hamas" and isolate the United Nations (UN).
“Following the cabinet decision to expand the scope of humanitarian aid, a mechanism was approved for the resumption of imports of goods through the private sector into Gaza, which will be carried out gradually and under strict control,“ the Israeli Defense Ministry said in a statement. “This is to increase the scope of aid entering the Gaza Strip, while reducing reliance on the collection of aid from the UN and international organizations“.
A special report by Israel's press service on Thursday found that, according to the UN's own data, an impressive 85% of the aid entering the Gaza Strip by truck since May 19 has been stolen. The investigation found that a combination of black market speculators and inflation is making much of the aid in Gaza inaccessible to most Palestinians.
The Israeli military agency for the coordination of government actions in the territories (COGAT) said the aim of the measure was to increase the volume of aid reaching Gaza, while reducing reliance on the UN and other international organizations. KOGAT is a unit of the Israel Defense Forces that coordinates civil affairs in Judea, Samaria and Gaza.
KOGAT said that these traders were approved “under the application of strict criteria and thorough checks“.
“All possible measures will be taken to prevent the participation of the terrorist organization “Hamas“ in the import and distribution of aid“, the military agency said.
Official Israeli sources told TPS that the lack of supplies for traders in Gaza is one of the factors responsible for the inflated prices of flour, fruit, vegetables, water, canned food and other donated goods supplied by the UN and NGOs.
Palestinian sources in Gaza told TPS that much of the food in the markets for months has come in the form of international aid – including American supplies, but is being resold at inflated prices, sometimes with a markup of 300%. Basic necessities such as flour and rice, originally intended for free distribution, are being redistributed to private traders.
A Palestinian in Gaza City said: “They steal the flour when it enters Gaza. And now they are going to raise the price from 30 to 60 shekels [$8.80 to $17.70]. It is unbelievable“.
This comes amid growing international allegations of famine and widespread malnutrition in Gaza.
“There is some famine in Gaza, and it exists only in places where Hamas is causing it, not in other areas,“ said Professor Eitan Gilboa, an expert in international relations and media at Reichman University in Herzliya.
An estimated 1,200 people were killed and 252 Israelis and foreigners were taken hostage in Hamas attacks on Israeli communities near the Gaza border on October 7. Of the 50 remaining hostages, about 30 are believed to be dead.