Eshkol Council Head Condemns Israeli Security Cabinet's Gaza Peace Council Pilot Amid Hamas Threat

The Israeli Security Cabinet approved the launch of a pilot phase for the "Peace Council" initiative in the Gaza Strip on Sunday, aiming to restore basic services, humanitarian aid, and civilian infrastructure in areas outside Hamas control. This move is part of a broader effort to rehabilitate Gaza while bypassing Hamas governance. However, Michal Oziah, head of the Eshkol Regional Council bordering Gaza, sharply criticized the decision in a letter to the Security Cabinet. She emphasized that for the residents of the Gaza periphery, who suffered heavily during the October 7 attacks, the issue is not political but a fundamental security demand to prevent a recurrence of such events.

Oziah stated that true stability cannot be based on the assumption that Hamas will continue to exist beyond the border fence. She insisted that no progress should be made in Gaza's rehabilitation stages as long as Hamas remains armed and retains its military and governing capabilities. "It is unacceptable to discuss 'the day after' when there is no certainty that the threat of 'yesterday' has been removed," she said.

Following the cabinet's approval, the Atid LaOtef movement also responded, demanding clarity from the government on whether the decision enhances the security of Gaza's surrounding communities. They argued that any reconstruction or political process must begin only after Hamas ceases to be a military and governing threat to Israel. The movement stressed the necessity of effective oversight mechanisms to ensure Israel's freedom of action, real-time intelligence on Gaza, and early detection of any terrorist regrouping attempts.