The head of the “Israel Our Home” party, Avigdor Lieberman, raised sharp accusations inside Israel, claiming that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is withholding information from members of the security and political ministerial council and from the public, noting that about 50 members of the “elite” force affiliated with Hamas were seen training for the scenario of storming and taking control of an Israeli town, while he said that the political level prevented the Israeli army from targeting them.
According to a report published by the Israeli “Maariv” website, Lieberman made statements that the website described as “dramatic” while he was at the Kerem Shalom crossing, and accused Netanyahu of returning to the “containment policy” and concealing information from the public and members of the Security and Political Ministerial Council.
Lieberman said that Israeli army forces spotted about 50 members of Hamas’ “elite” force during training to storm and control an Israeli town.
According to his claim, the Israeli army commanders present in the field requested immediate action to carry out a specific targeting operation against all elements, but they received instructions from the political level that stated: “Do not touch anyone.”
Lieberman also warned of financial arrangements that he said were in the interest of Hamas, and of an actual withdrawal of Israeli army forces from parts of the Gaza Strip.
Lieberman said in his statement: “Today I visited the Gaza Strip, Kerem Shalom, and the new American base being built near the crossing, which is supposed to receive the international force expected to deploy in the Gaza Strip and help Hamas rebuild itself. I also visited Be’eri, where I met local security officials.”
He added: “What I saw and heard is very disturbing, and I want to inform the members of the Security and Political Ministerial Council of a number of details that the Prime Minister is hiding from them and the public.”
Regarding the financial file, Lieberman claimed that “the Prime Minister agreed to an understanding between the Director General of the Peace Council, Nikolai Mladenov, and Hamas, stipulating that the Peace Council transfer $400 million to suppliers and service providers according to Hamas’ lists.”
He added: “There is also an understanding between Hamas and these suppliers and service providers stipulating that about 40% of the $400 million, or $160 million in cash, be returned to Hamas’ military wing.”
Lieberman moved on to talk about the deployment of the Israeli army in the Gaza Strip, saying that “the withdrawal of Israeli army forces is practically complete.”
He explained: “The Israeli army forces withdrew to the line of positions, and in the entire area between the line of positions, i.e. the purple line, and the yellow concrete barriers, i.e. the yellow line, not a single soldier remained.”
He considered that “the directives from the political level not to remove the yellow concrete barriers are nothing but a smokescreen for political purposes,” adding: “Actually, there is not a single soldier behind the line of positions, and the entire area between the line of positions and the yellow line is devoid of the presence of the Israeli army.”
The most sensitive accusation raised by Lieberman related to what he said was field training for members of the “elite” force.
He said: “The night before yesterday, the Israeli army forces monitored a training session for about 50 members of the elite force, who were training to storm a Jewish town and control it.”
He added, “The Israeli army commanders in the field asked to move immediately to carry out specific targeting of all elements, but the directives of the political level were: You do not touch anyone, and do not fire even a single sound bullet.”
Lieberman considered that what happened represented “a surrender to the militants and a return to the policy of containment and the concept that led to October 7,” as he put it.
At the conclusion of his statements, Lieberman touched on the American role, considering that the visit of the Commander of the US Central Command to the US base in southern Israel carries a significance that goes beyond the direct military aspect.
He said: “When the commander of US Central Command visits the US base in the south, this means that Netanyahu has given up the ability to make security decisions independently, and even to move a single pin, American approval must be obtained.”
Lieberman’s accusations place Netanyahu in front of a new Israeli debate that is not limited to the way to manage the situation in Gaza, but extends to what is claimed to be withheld security information, financial understandings and field military deployment, leading to the most sensitive question in Israel since October 7: Will the “containment” policy return again despite warnings of exercises simulating intrusion scenarios?
