Despite the chaos dominating Gaza aid distribution, Israeli ministers鈥攊ncluding National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich鈥攁cknowledge one reality: Israel has no choice but to continue providing food to Palestinians. However, following widespread looting of aid trucks, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz last week demanded an alternative plan to deliver aid without it reaching Hamas. Security officials were outraged, saying such plans have been on decision-makers鈥 desks for weeks. Recent footage showing looting of aid trucks in northern Gaza caused alarm among political leaders fearing right-wing criticism over indirectly strengthening Hamas in Gaza City. Though Netanyahu gave the IDF 48 hours to present an 鈥渁lternative plan,鈥 Ynet found such plans exist, including establishing additional Palestinian food distribution centers in Gaza. Simultaneously, officials told decision-makers that resuming daily deliveries of dozens of food, fuel and gas trucks via the Zikim border crossing to northern Gaza鈥攚here 800,000 Palestinians have returned鈥攔emains unavoidable. In closed discussions, senior IDF officers added: 鈥淭he army works to secure aid routes, including aerial surveillance, but soldiers can鈥檛 be at every Gaza intersection. During the Iran conflict, we withdrew a brigade operating near the northern border to reinforce other sectors. 鈥淭housands of Palestinians, including Hamas terrorists, immediately exploited this vacuum as aid trucks cross these areas. Distribution centers feed half of Gaza鈥檚 population鈥攖he other half cannot be starved.鈥 Food centers in southern Gaza are also far from ideal, with costs increasingly outweighing benefits. Initially, politicians boasted that IDF soldiers wouldn鈥檛 distribute aid鈥攑er Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir鈥檚 demand鈥攔elying instead on U.S. personnel funded by obscure sources at hundreds of millions of shekels monthly. In practice, routes to these centers require daily security by hundreds of IDF troops tasked with crowd control and access regulation. Get the Ynetnews app on your smartphone: Google Play: https://bit.ly/4eJ37pE | Apple App Store: https://bit.ly/3ZL7iNv Soldiers in southern Gaza described this non-combat mission: 鈥淪ometimes 50,000 Palestinians arrive five hours before centers open. They stand behind a red line鈥攃rossing triggers warning shots, which aren鈥檛 always precise. 鈥淪ome approach our tanks and APCs with empty pots seeking provocation footage, including children. We can鈥檛 know who hides explosives or is sent by Hamas to test us.鈥 This reality also damages Israel politically. Warning-fire incidents kill unarmed Palestinians en route to food aid, with videos circulating globally. The IDF emphasized to policymakers how this serves Hamas strategically鈥攏ot just in legitimacy battles. Entire IDF companies now guard distribution centers instead of attacking Hamas targets, which remain abundant 21 months into the war. Commanders report operational Hamas battalions from Khan Younis to Gaza City. For example, this weekend, the IDF eliminated Hakham Muhammad Issa Al-Issa, a Hamas founder and military trainer involved in planning the October 7 massacre and training programs. Meanwhile, the 98th Division鈥攚ithdrawn from Gaza to prepare for Iran escalation scenarios鈥攊s preparing to return pending political approval. The government will decide within days between pursuing a hostage deal/long-term ceasefire or resuming ground operations against Hamas. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Telegram