Smotrich, Strock push Netanyahu to bar ISF from operating in Gaza before Hamas disarmament

Last Friday, Strock attended a tour of the Life Support Area Endurance camp, a staging site for ISF forces, and viewed ongoing preperations for the deployment of the ISF.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Missions Minister Orit Strock have appealed to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of Monday’s cabinet meeting, demanding that a decision be made to prevent the entry of foreign and multinational forces into the Gaza Strip before Hamas is fully disarmed and the enclave is fully demilitarized.

The two warned against the accelerated preparations for the International Stabilization Force's (ISF) entry into the Gaza Strip.

Last Friday, Strock attended a tour of the Life Support Area Endurance camp, a staging area intended to absorb ISF forces, during which, according to Strock’s statement, significant preparations for the ISF’s deployment were revealed.

According to data presented by the ministers, the camp has residential infrastructure for about 1,500 foreign soldiers, including 20 giant tents and about 100 temporary structures.

In addition, a fleet of military vehicles for about 1,000 soldiers is on site, and about 50 workers continue developing the base and bringing in equipment and materials.

The ministers also noted that the camp, where training continues at an intensive pace, will eventually accommodate about 5,000 soldiers.

At the same time, they said, efforts are underway to locate additional locations to use as bases and storage areas. Based on the pace of work, preparations are expected to be completed within a few weeks.

Smotrich, Strock claim preperations underway for a larger-than-expected ISF

Smotrich and Strock claimed the preparations underway are for a force much larger than what was presented to the cabinet, and that its aim also appears fundamentally different from what was presented to the ministers.

According to them, this is happening at a time when Hamas is not showing any willingness to disarm and demilitarize.

In their letter to the Prime Minister, the ministers warned: "We must not reach a situation where the ISF, of such a huge scale, will be ready and willing to enter the Gaza Strip, and enormous pressure will be exerted on Israel to allow its entry, even though the demilitarization has not yet been carried out."

In light of this, Smotrich and Strock demanded that the cabinet adopt an affirmative resolution tomorrow, which will prevent the entry of the ISF and any other multinational force into the Gaza Strip before Hamas is fully disarmed and Gaza is fully demilitarized.