Smotrich's statement came in response to a report in the same newspaper, which stated that the Israeli occupation army is preparing to resume the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza, even without a prisoner exchange agreement with Hamas. This comes amid warnings of the possibility of legal prosecution against Israel for its policies toward Palestinian civilians.
Since March 2, the Israeli occupation has closed all crossings into the Gaza Strip, preventing the entry of food, medical, and humanitarian supplies, causing an unprecedented deterioration in living conditions, according to local and international reports.
The Israeli occupation justified its decision to halt aid deliveries by pressuring Hamas to accept its terms for a prisoner exchange. However, according to the newspaper, the Israeli army recommended that aid be allowed again to avoid potential legal and humanitarian repercussions.
But Smotrich rejected these recommendations, saying, "It's surprising that the army is speaking to us through the press, and my position is clear: Not a single grain of wheat will enter the Gaza Strip." He also criticized the prioritization of recovering prisoners over eliminating Hamas, saying, "This is a pointless slogan."
Earlier on Monday, Yedioth Ahronoth reported that the Israeli military was preparing to resume allowing aid into Gaza "within weeks" even without a prisoner exchange agreement with Hamas, fearing legal action against leaders for genocide against Palestinians.
Commenting on this, the Israeli army said in a statement that it "operates in accordance with the instructions of the political echelon," adding, "Israel does not and will not transfer any type of aid to Hamas."
Human rights, governmental, and international organizations have previously warned of the repercussions of the continued tightening of the Israeli blockade on the Gaza Strip, which will plunge Palestinians into a state of severe hunger.
On March 27 and 29, the World Food Programme stressed the urgent need for aid to reach the Gaza Strip, as food stocks dwindle.
The program explained in a post on Twitter that it "has approximately 5,700 tons of food stocks remaining in Gaza, sufficient to support its operations for a maximum of two weeks."
On March 18, Israel reneged on the 58-day ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement, resuming its genocidal war on the Gaza Strip that began on October 7, 2023. The war has resulted in the deaths and injuries of more than 166,000 Palestinians, most of them children and women, and in more than 14,000 missing persons.