Despite Ben Gvir's opposition: Cabinet approves entry of international forces into Gaza
The cabinet approved the entry of Multinational Peace Council forces into Gaza, despite opposition from Minister Itamar Ben Gvir. Ministers Gideon Sa'ar and Ze'ev Elkin supported the move, while Orit Strock and Ben Gvir criticized Hamas's failure to meet its commitments.
The cabinet approved today (Sunday) the entry of the Multinational Peace Council forces into Gaza. Minister Itamar Ben Gvir voted against it and was in the minority.
Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar stated:
"This is an international plan. It may be that we will not succeed, but we should not be the ones to destroy it."
Minister Ze'ev Elkin said: "We have already decided on this issue in the past, and we determined that if hostages are released, we will bring international forces into Gaza."
Conversely, Minister Itamar Ben Gvir said: "Hamas did not fulfill its commitment to disarm and demilitarize the Strip, and therefore we are not committed to it either. I was against the 20-point plan from the start. The solution in Gaza is to encourage emigration."
Minister Orit Strock added: "The only good thing here is the international consensus, but on the other hand, they committed and did not fulfill their commitments. If a new Gaza is established, it will be an eternal disgrace."
As recalled, last month it was revealed in "HaYom" that the Peace Council had already prepared the infrastructure for the start of localized reconstruction works in areas without Hamas, with the goal of severing Hamas's control over the population. However, residents of the Gaza envelope fear that as long as Hamas is in power, this is a bypass route to start reconstruction works while Hamas still holds its weapons, contrary to past decisions made by the cabinet.
Last Tuesday, Peace Council member on behalf of the US administration Aryeh Leistone met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in his office and discussed with him the issues on the agenda in Gaza. This is another meeting in a series of meetings between the two on the subject of Gaza against the backdrop of the fact that Hamas refuses the disarmament proposals.
During this time, the Peace Council did not stop the preparations for the start of temporary reconstruction works in the humanitarian zones that will be defined. Among other things, logistical warehouses were rented from which aid will be transferred not through UN organizations, and a semi-military camp was established on the border where the multinational forces that will operate in the designated areas will stay.
In the Gaza Envelope Forum, they responded to the publication: "We at the Forum reiterate and warn that Article 17 of the agreement is a dangerous clause that allows for the start of the entry of international forces for the reconstruction of Gaza before the dismantling of Hamas. The State of Israel must come to its senses and oppose Article 17 across the board and not accept parts of it and in practice implement Article 17 by creeping. The reconstruction of Gaza, even if in stages before the dismantling of Hamas, is dangerous for the residents of the envelope and will necessarily lead to the strengthening of Hamas on the ground."
