Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir on Friday renewed his call for a complete halt to humanitarian aid deliveries to the Gaza Strip, linking the provision of food and supplies to the release of Israeli hostages held in the enclave. "I call on Prime Minister [Benjamin Netanyahu] and my fellow ministers to reverse the disastrous decision to renew aid to Gaza during the next Cabinet meeting; a decision I voted against in the previous session," Ben-Gvir posted on X. "It is foolish, morally wrong, and strategically mistaken for Gazans to receive supplies while our hostages suffer from hunger," he added. "The equation must be clear: Want humanitarian aid? Release our hostages." Ben-Gvir has previously expressed opposition to any aid entering Gaza, and Israeli media, including Channel 14, have reported that he supports restricting aid to encourage voluntary migration from the enclave. His latest remarks came days after the Israeli Security Cabinet approved a new mechanism for aid delivery into Gaza, reportedly to be facilitated by private U.S. security contractors distributing supplies directly to individuals. The decision follows mounting international pressure over the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza. U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee confirmed Friday that a food aid operation for Gaza is set to begin soon and will proceed independently of Israeli authorities. Israel has maintained a full closure of Gaza's border crossings to aid since March 2, deepening what humanitarian groups describe as an already catastrophic crisis. According to health and rights organizations, food, medical, and essential humanitarian supplies have been largely cut off. Since the start of Israel's military campaign in October 2023, nearly 52,800 Palestinians — the majority of them women and children — have been killed in Gaza, according to local health authorities. The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants in November for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, citing alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity. Israel also faces a separate genocide case at the International Court of Justice over its actions in Gaza. — Agencies
