Top Rabbis Warn Netanyahu Against Foreign Forces in Gaza, Citing Oslo Error

Dozens of prominent rabbis from the Religious Zionist movement have penned a letter to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Israel Katz, and the Security Cabinet, urging them to halt plans for introducing international forces into the Gaza Strip. The rabbis expressed grave concerns that such a move, which they termed the "Peace Council" plan, would endanger Israeli security and potentially pave the way for a Palestinian state.

Among the signatories are prominent figures such as Rabbi Dov Lior, Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu (Rabbi of Safed), Rabbi Yoel Bin Nun (co-founder of Yeshivat Har Etzion), Rabbi Elyakim Levanon (Rabbi of the Shomron), and Rabbi Yisrael Ariel (head of the Temple Institute), alongside other senior rabbis.

The letter explicitly warns that entrusting Gaza's security to foreign entities, especially those considered enemies of Israel, poses a mortal risk to the Jewish people. The rabbis drew a direct parallel to the Oslo Accords, stating, "After the Oslo disaster, we must not repeat the same mistake." They invoked the Ramban's principle, "that we shall not leave it in the hands of any of the nations or to desolation," asserting that the Land of Israel belongs solely to the people of Israel.

Furthermore, the rabbis cautioned cabinet members that any involvement in such a plan would make them accountable for potential future bloodshed, quoting, "He who lends a hand to this will not be able to say, God forbid: 'Our hands did not shed this blood.'"

In their concluding remarks, the rabbis implored the government to resist international pressure and firmly reject any proposal that would transfer control of Gaza to foreign actors, emphasizing the importance of preserving the integrity of the Holy Land and ensuring the security of Israel.