Avigdor Lieberman Warns Israel Is Repeating Mistakes Leading to October 7 Massacre

Avigdor Lieberman, chairman of the Israel Beytenu party, visited the Kerem Shalom crossing on Wednesday and issued a stark warning against returning to the policies that led to the October 7 massacre. He criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for imposing political restrictions on the Israel Defense Forces amid U.S. pressure to end the war. Lieberman stated, "What we are witnessing is a complete return to the same concept and containment that led to October 7, 2023."

Lieberman highlighted that 20 percent of the value of every truckload entering Gaza ends up in Hamas's hands. He condemned Netanyahu's approval to transfer $400 million to Gaza suppliers, noting that 40 percent of that amount, or $160 million, is funneled to Hamas's military wing. He described this financial flow as the exact mechanism that enabled the October 7 attack.

He further accused the supply chain of being coordinated with Hamas, forcing Israeli suppliers to purchase goods primarily from Turkey, which facilitates money laundering for Hamas there. Lieberman called this situation "bankruptcy".

Concluding his remarks, Lieberman pointed to the American military base established at the crossing as evidence that Netanyahu has surrendered Israel's autonomy in security decisions. "Israel cannot move a pin without coordinating with the United States," he said, adding that the current government "has no right to exist."