Avigdor Liberman Criticizes Government Over Renewed Gaza Kite Terror Despite Earlier Support for Withdrawal

Avigdor Liberman, chairman of the Israel Beiteinu party, sharply criticized the Israeli government on Sunday for the resurgence of kite and balloon terror attacks from Gaza. Liberman recalled that about two weeks before the October 7 attacks, he had warned about the return of incendiary balloons, blaming the government he described as "clowns" for the security lapse. Nearly three years later, he reiterated his condemnation, saying the government’s approach remains the same flawed "conception."

Liberman’s comments come amid ongoing discussions about a potential hostage deal, during which he joined opposition leaders in advocating for a full withdrawal of Israeli Defense Forces from Gaza back to the border fence. Currently, the IDF maintains control over a buffer zone inside Gaza known as the "yellow area," intended to protect nearby Israeli communities by pushing threats farther from the border.

This stance contrasts with previous positions Liberman, along with former military chief Gadi Eizenkot, former Defense Minister Benny Gantz, and former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, had taken in support of broader Israeli withdrawals from Gaza as part of hostage negotiation frameworks. The renewed kite terror has intensified debate over the security implications of such withdrawals and the government’s handling of Gaza threats.