Israeli Defense Minister, Israel Katz stated on Wednesday that Israel has officially adopted a policy of halting humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip in an effort to weaken Hamas’s grip over the enclave’s population.
His comments came just one day after touring Israeli military positions inside Gaza alongside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and senior Israel Defense Forces commanders.
In a press statement, Katz said, “Israel’s policy is clear: no humanitarian aid is about to enter Gaza. No one is currently preparing or intending to bring any humanitarian aid into Gaza under the current circumstances.”
The decision comes amid escalating military operations and the ongoing blockade on food, water, fuel, medical supplies, and other essential goods, which Israel reimposed on March 2.
Katz explained that this policy is part of a broader military and political strategy that aims to dismantle Hamas’s control over Gaza, secure the release of Israeli hostages, and ultimately defeat the militant group, which is designated as a terrorist organization by Israel, the United States, the European Union, and others.
According to Katz, the goal is to disrupt Hamas’s ability to govern and distribute aid, thereby laying the groundwork for future humanitarian assistance to be delivered through third-party private companies, bypassing Hamas entirely.
“The aim is to deny Hamas the tools it uses to maintain its authority over the population,” he added.
Prime Minister Netanyahu also weighed in during the visit, reiterating that the restriction on aid is intended to pressure Hamas into agreeing to terms for a continued ceasefire and hostage release deal—without requiring Israel to end the war.
READ ALSO: Israeli airstrike hits Gaza hospital
Netanyahu emphasized that the IDF will not back down from its strategic goals and that any agreement must serve Israel’s long-term security interests.
Meanwhile, Israeli forces continue intensive airstrikes and ground operations throughout the Gaza Strip, targeting Hamas fighters, tunnels, weapons depots, and command centers.
Katz noted that the military is preparing for “next phases” of the operation and warned that if Hamas refuses to meet Israel’s demands regarding a hostage deal, the military campaign will expand further.
Israel has also indicated that it will retain control over several “security zones” inside Gaza, even after the current phase of the conflict, signaling a long-term military presence in the territory.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate rapidly. According to health authorities in the Hamas-run enclave, more than 51,000 Palestinians have been killed since the war began in October, with many more injured or displaced.
International organizations, including the United Nations and various aid groups, have repeatedly warned of an impending famine and a collapse of basic medical services if aid deliveries are not resumed.
Israel’s position has drawn criticism from global humanitarian agencies and some Western governments, who argue that withholding aid constitutes collective punishment and violates international law.
However, Israeli officials maintain that no sustainable humanitarian solution is possible without first neutralizing Hamas’s control over the region.
NAN
