An Israeli official called for the complete destruction of Gaza. In six weeks of bombing Gaza, Israeli forces have killed over 5,500 Palestinian Children. Still, Deputy Speaker of the Knesset Nissim Vaturi said, “We are too humane. Burn Gaza now no less!”
Vaturi, a Lukid Member of the Knesset, made the remarks in response to the Israeli government allowing a small amount of fuel into Gaza. “All of this preoccupation with whether or not there is internet in Gaza shows that we have learned nothing. We are too humane. Burn Gaza now no less!” he demanded. “Don’t allow fuel in, don’t allow water in until the hostages are returned back!”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed to allow two trucks of fuel into Gaza every other day. However, aid groups say the small amount of fuel is insufficient to maintain basic humanitarian operations.
On Friday, the UN said that it was no longer able to continue aid deliveries into Gaza as an Israeli fuel blockade of the enclave has led to a widespread communications blackout. The World Health Organization warned that the ending of aid deliveries means the “immediate possibility of starvation” for the 2.3 million people in Gaza.
The fuel deliveries are intended to allow Palestinians to operate sewage and communications in Gaza. Still, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said allowing a small amount of fuel into Gaza is “a grave mistake.”
National Security Council chairman Tzachi Hanegbi told reporters that Tel Aviv had to allow the fuel into Gaza so it could continue its military operations. “If plague were to break out, we’d have to stop the war,” he said.
Israeli Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir also denounced the aid shipments. Ben Gvir said in an interview with Politico that allowing fuel “broadcasts weakness, gives oxygen to the enemy and allows [Hamas leader Yahya] Sinwar to sit comfortably in his air-conditioned bunker, watch the news and continue to manipulate Israeli society and the families of the abductees.”
