Amit Segal: IDF no longer opposed to managing aid distribution

Channel 12 reporter Amir Segal reported this evening (Wednesday) that the IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir no longer opposes the idea of the army handling aid distribution itself, something which former IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi strongly opposed.

According to Segal, previous IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi strongly opposed the idea that the IDF be involved in any way in helping to distribute aid to the Palestinian civilians in Gaza, either directly or as part of the outer circles of the distribution. He was strongly supported in his views by former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

The fear of both was that any such assistance would lead to a form of military government in the Gaza Strip, which is something both opposed very strongly for a variety of reasons.

Now, new IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir says that he does not object to the IDF being involved in providing Gazans with humanitarian aid. Though the planning right now is for an American company to directly provide aid, the IDF is reportedly willing to handle it itself if that option falls through.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich publicly attacked Halevi months ago for refusing to sanction IDF handling of humanitarian aid, and many hawkish members of the government noted that the aid flowing in was repeatedly stolen or commandeered by Hamas, allowing it to supply its terrorist fighters and resell the free goods to the people, keeping it financially afloat.

Right now, Israel is not allowing aid to enter the Gaza Strip, in accordance with a policy aimed at building pressure on Hamas to release the hostages on more favorable terms. It has also ended electricity supply to the desalination plant. Although there are a few months' worth of supplies already in the Gaza Strip, the cessation of aid has already led to increasing prices for goods.