IDF battles on in Rafah as humanitarian corridor created

The opening of a humanitarian corridor in Gaza does not impact the IDF’s battle against Hamas in Rafah, and there is no policy change on this matter, the army clarified on Sunday after its announcement caused a political uproar among Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s far-right coalition partners.

“The IDF makes it clear that there is no cessation of combat in the southern Gaza Strip, and the combat in Rafah continues,” it said.

It issued a Hebrew language clarification after it published an English announcement about the creation of a daily 11-hour humanitarian corridor from the Kerem Shalom Crossing to the Salah al-Din Road.

Far-right coalition partners National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich attacked the gesture, noting that it came after eight soldiers were killed in Gaza on Saturday and during a weekend in which a total of 12 soldiers died.

"Whoever decided on a ‘tactical pause’ for the purpose of a humanitarian passageway, especially when our best soldiers are falling in battle, is evil and a fool who should not continue to be in his position,” Ben Gvir stated. 

“Unfortunately, this move was not brought before the cabinet and is contrary to its decisions. It's time to abandon the ‘conception’ [that Hamas can be appeased] and stop this crazy and delusional approach that only brings us more dead and fallen,” Ben Gvir said. 

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said that the announcement was just symptomatic of larger problems in the handling of the war, as he alluded to the failures of Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and IDF Chief of Staff Herzl Halevi, without actually naming them.

A source in the Prime Minister’s office made it appear as if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had not known about the announcement.

Netanyahu was informed late

Once Netanyahu “heard the reports in the morning about a daily humanitarian pause for 11 hours, he turned to his military secretary and made it clear that this was unacceptable to him,” the source stated. 

After checking out the situation, the source explained, “The Prime Minister was informed that there was no change in IDF policy and that the fighting in Rafah continued as planned,” the source stated.

The original English language announcement stated that “As part of ongoing efforts by the IDF and Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories to increase the volumes of humanitarian aid entering the Gaza Strip and following additional related discussions with the UN and international organizations,” procedures had been put in place to help with aid distribution.

“Starting yesterday (Saturday), a local, tactical pause of military activity for humanitarian purposes will take place from 08:00 until 19:00 every day until further notice along the road that leads from the Kerem Shalom Crossing to the Salah al-Din Road and then northwards,” the army said. A spokesman for COGAT clarified that the pause had been in effect on Sunday as well.

“This is an additional step in the humanitarian aid efforts that have been conducted by the IDF and COGAT since the beginning of the war,” it stated. “The IDF will continue to support humanitarian efforts on the ground,” the army added.

In its Hebrew language statement later it said, “There is no change in the introduction of goods into the Gaza Strip. 

“The humanitarian corridor for goods will be open during the day in coordination with international organizations, for the transportation of humanitarian aid only,” it added.

Israel has been under attack by the international community, including the United States, for not taking enough steps to safely ensure the distribution of humanitarian assistance in Gaza.

The lack of an effective system to distribute aid has led to claims by the UN that people in Gaza were starving as well as accusations that Israel was using hunger as a tool of war.

The army opened the corridor just as Pentagon spokesperson Maj. Gen. Patrick Ryder announced on X that Gallant had been invited to visit Washington at a date to be announced. This would be Gallant’s second trip to Washington since the start of the War.

Netanyahu is expected to travel to Washington next month to address a joint session of Congress. He has yet to visit Washington since taking office in December 2022.

The appearance of a disconnect between Gallant and Netanyahu on the issue of humanitarian aid, came just one week after the Defense Minister voted against the government’s draft law in the Knesset. 

Gallant also angered the Foreign Ministry when he spoke out against French efforts for a trilateral diplomatic process to end the war in the north between the IDF and the Iranian proxy group Hezbollah located in Lebanon.

Smotrich said there was a complete disconnect between those operating in IDF headquarters and the soldiers in the field. He said that a humanitarian corridor already existed and the announcement reflected a disconnect between the soldiers in the field in Gaza and those in the army’s headquarters.

The manner in which aid is sent into Gaza only helps Hamas remain in power, a step which directly contradicts the war’s goal of destroying the terror group, Smotrich stated.

“This is one of the reasons for the continuation of the war and the resounding strategic failure that threatens to sink the bravery of the fighters and field commanders and their incredible professionalism and tactical successes,” he stated.

What needs to happen is an Israeli occupation of Gaza and the establishment of a temporary military government, Smotrich stated.

Halevi and Gallant have refused to take this step, he said, and “unfortunately Prime Minister Netanyahu is either unwilling or unable to force this on them,” Smotrich stated.