Following the new aid distribution plan initiated by the IDF, a senior diplomatic source said Hamas is expected to oppose the plan. According to this source, control over the massive amounts of supplies that reached Gaza has been Hamas's primary means of controlling the population and has helped the organization with recruitment and rehabilitation efforts.
This source stated that neutralizing this means weakening Hamas and adding to the military pressure that has already shown results, leading to flexibility in negotiations for the release of hostages. Hamas, according to him, is now willing to release nine hostages in the first phase, whereas previously they agreed to release only a few individuals with time gaps between them.
The additional goal of Israeli-supervised aid distribution is to meet the requirements of international law and deflect criticism regarding the humanitarian situation of the civilian population in Gaza. The diplomatic source said those who criticize the move, claiming "there are no innocent people in Gaza," do not understand the conduct of the international diplomatic and legal battle that Israel is engaged in. "We cannot win against The Hague and against European governments without resolving this issue, and it is also important to the American administration."
This point is significant because it demonstrates the attention given by the current, more supportive administration compared to its predecessor, also to the humanitarian issue, and to fighting international and personal lawsuits against Israeli officials. We should recall that the International Court in The Hague issued arrest warrants against Prime Minister Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Gallant, preventing them not only from visiting many European countries but also from flying over them.
The source rejected the assessment that this is a pilot for military governance over Gaza, emphasizing that this is not the intention. However, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who also serves as a minister in the Defense Ministry and is privy to the details, was notably absent from the right-wing critics of the move. Smotrich is known as a passionate supporter of restoring Israeli control over Gaza.
According to the source, this plan is complex, and its goals include minimizing risk to IDF soldiers and ensuring aid reaches the population directly. For this purpose, advanced talks are being held with international organizations, including the World Central Kitchen (WCK) already operating in Gaza. UN-affiliated aid organizations are creating obstacles due to their refusal to provide the names of aid workers for security checks.
Given the fact that hundreds of UN employees, especially from UNRWA, were actually Hamas members, the Israeli demand is understandable, but the UN still insists despite American pressure. Importantly, the intention to advance the plan is serious, and if and when it is decided to implement it, Israeli entities will also be involved in distribution if there aren't enough international organizations to assist. The Defense Ministry and the IDF prefer to avoid direct and intensive contact with the Gazan population, but if necessary, this option is on the table.
