Ex-defense minister: Israel in ‘worst possible’ Gaza situation as Hamas gains strength
Former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant criticized the Israeli government for allowing Hamas to retain control over half of the Gaza Strip.
Former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant described Israel's position in Gaza as “the worst possible” on Monday, criticizing the government over its inability to prevent Gazans from flying kites into Israeli territory and warning that Hamas is growing stronger in the half of the Gaza Strip it still controls.
The comments came after a series of incidents concerning kites near the Gaza border over the weekend. Four kites were intercepted near Kibbutz Nir Oz on Saturday and another on Sunday. They were not carrying explosives, but the Israeli military reportedly fears that Hamas could planning it as the next step.
Responding to Gallant's criticism, Defense Minister Israel Katz blamed his predecessor for allowing Hamas operatives to repeatedly approach the border fence before the assaults on Oct. 7, 2023.
Before the Oct. 7 attacks Hamas launched hundreds of kites and balloons carrying explosives or flammable materials, setting large agricultural areas in southern Israel ablaze.
Gallant vs. Katz
In an interview with Israeli radio station 103FM, Gallant said, “We are in the worst possible situation: Half of the Gaza Strip is in Israel's hands, half of the Gaza Strip is in Hamas' hands, and Hamas is growing stronger and now raising its head again. Hamas is in power, and now the kite incidents are beginning, and tomorrow something else will begin.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fired Gallant on Nov. 5, 2024, amid disagreements over Gallant's efforts to advance a ceasefire in Gaza that would secure the return of all the hostages.
Katz hit back at Gallant in a statement Monday, saying, “I am not Yoav Gallant, and I will not allow the policies of the evening of Oct. 7 to be repeated — neither from the air nor by allowing anyone to approach the fences.”
Katz added, “Unlike the strategy of repetitive raids he led during the war — which allowed Hamas to return time and again to the same locations — we worked together with the Israeli military to establish a strong security zone, cleared of residents and terrorist infrastructure, with the military maintaining control of the area to protect our soldiers and communities.”
“We will not allow anyone to circumvent it in any way,” he added.
Kite threat
The Israeli military warned residents of communities near the Gaza border on Monday not to approach suspicious objects, including kites and balloons, as they could be carrying dangerous materials.
According to Channel 12, the military suspects that Hamas could be checking the feasibility of resuming kite attacks or testing Israel's ability to detect and respond to such a threat.
