Minister-without-Portfolio Benny Gantz, a member of the War Cabinet, recently presented Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the National Security Council with a list of seven issues he demanded be clarified for the continuation of the war.
According to Gantz, Netanyahu has refrained from making decisions on the issues for political reasons, Channel 12 reported on Tuesday.
Among the issues demanding decision, according to Gantz, are:
• The handling of the Philadelphi Corridor and Rafah crossing along the Gaza border with Egypt (Netanyahu has signaled that Israel will need to control it);
• The return of residents of communities located close to the Gaza Strip to their homes (Israel previously said some residents could return on Feb. 4, and on Tuesday, Netanyahu promised that Israel would rebuild the towns and kibbutzim in the area);
• The return of residents of communities located close to the Lebanon border, who have been evacuated due to the Hezbollah threat; and
• Issues related to the “day after” Hamas in Gaza such as the distribution of humanitarian aid and the management of civilian life through an international coalition or other mechanism.
The Prime Minister’s Office said, “We responded to Minister Gantz’s request by saying that Prime Minister Netanyahu does not intend to change the goals of the war or compromise on less than total victory.
“The goals of the war are well known to Minister Gantz and all the members of the Cabinet, chief among them the elimination of Hamas, the release of our hostages and the promise that Gaza will never pose a threat to Israel,” it added.
“Prime Minister Netanyahu does not intend to compromise on these goals and insists that they be fully achieved,” the Prime Minister’s Office said.
