By Reuters
Israeli finance minister Bezalel Smotrich has threatened to withdraw his Religious Zionism party from the government. (AFP pic)JERUSALEM: Israel鈥檚 far-right finance minister Bezalel Smotrich sharply criticised today a cabinet decision to allow some aid into Gaza as a 鈥済rave mistake鈥 that he said would benefit the Palestinian rebel group Hamas.Smotrich also accused prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu of failing to ensure that Israel鈥檚 military is following government directives in prosecuting the war against Hamas in Gaza. He said he was considering his 鈥渘ext steps鈥 but stopped short of explicitly threatening to quit the coalition.Smotrich鈥檚 comments come a day before Netanyahu is due to hold talks in Washington with president Donald Trump on a US-backed proposal for a 60-day Gaza ceasefire.鈥溾 the cabinet and the prime minister made a grave mistake yesterday in approving the entry of aid through a route that also benefits Hamas,鈥 Smotrich said on X, arguing that the aid would ultimately reach the Islamist group and serve as 鈥渓ogistical support for the enemy during wartime鈥.The Israeli government has not announced any changes to its aid policy in Gaza. Israeli media reported that the government had voted to allow additional aid to enter northern Gaza.The prime minister鈥檚 office did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. The military declined to comment.Israel accuses Hamas of stealing aid for its own fighters or to sell to finance its operations, an accusation Hamas denies. Gaza is in the grip of a humanitarian catastrophe, with conditions threatening to push nearly a half a million people into famine within months, according to UN estimates.Israel in May partially lifted a nearly three-month blockade on aid. Two Israeli officials said on June 27 the government had temporarily stopped aid from entering north Gaza.PressurePublic pressure in Israel is mounting on Netanyahu to secure a permanent ceasefire, a move opposed by some hardline members of his right-wing coalition. An Israeli team left for Qatar today for talks on a possible Gaza hostage and ceasefire deal.Smotrich, who in January threatened to withdraw his Religious Zionism party from the government if Israel agreed to a complete end to the war before having achieved its objectives, did not mention the ceasefire in his criticism of Netanyahu.The right-wing coalition holds a slim parliamentary majority, although some opposition lawmakers have offered to support the government from collapsing if a ceasefire is agreed.The war erupted when Hamas attacked southern Israel in October 2023, killing around 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. Israel鈥檚 retaliatory war in Gaza has killed over 57,000 Palestinians, according to the enclave鈥檚 health ministry.Most of Gaza鈥檚 population has been displaced by the war, a humanitarian crisis has unfolded, and much of the territory lies in ruins.