The elimination of the commander of Hamas's Rafah Brigade sparked a sharp public confrontation between Defense Minister Israel Katz and Ofer Winter, chairman of the Amcha Yisrael party.
Following the targeted killing, Winter questioned how, after three years of war, Hamas still maintains control of the Rafah Brigade and continues to operate throughout Gaza.
Katz responded forcefully:
"Winter, you're not updated. Rafah and 70% of Gaza are empty of residents, the tunnels are being destroyed and the houses demolished, and the IDF sits on the Yellow Line in dozens of outposts, surrounding the remaining 30% from all directions in an unprecedented security zone that protects Israeli communities and eliminates many terrorists weekly while removing threats.
And all this within the framework of a 'ceasefire' that was established and led to the release of all the hostages, a supreme value for all Israelis, with the commitment of the U.S. and accompanying countries to disarm Hamas and destroy all the tunnels.
We all understand this won't happen, and the IDF is prepared, given the directive to eliminate Hamas, to complete the work so we can also implement the emigration plan."
Katz attacked Winter directly: "Your distorted criticism against the government and the IDF is very similar to that of all the former studio sitters, holders of the outdated security concept, who ignore the facts and the great achievements in Iran, Gaza, Lebanon and Syria, in order to attack the government. The people of Israel don't need more of this product, and this is very worrying regarding future scenarios."
Winter added: "Good morning, Minister Katz. There were and are very many achievements in this war [but] there is no decisive victory. There is no voluntary emigration."
Winter revealed the position he was offered: "You called on me to establish the emigration administration. This is the only position offered to me and I agreed to it immediately, because I truly believed and believe that there is no decisive victory without voluntary emigration. But I demanded real authority."
He accused Katz:
"I submitted to you a detailed plan of how to execute it. You fled. You established an administration, but you didn't carry out emigration and didn't even start. You had an open check from the American administration and you threw it in the trash.
Meanwhile, alongside the achievements, you're building magnetometers to provide haircuts to Hamas. You're transferring hundreds of supply trucks to Hamas every day. The same Hamas that murdered and massacred and raped us on October 7th.
Mr. Defense Minister, three years after October 7th and you still haven't given the directive to eliminate Hamas? There are living terrorists in Gaza who murdered inside the State of Israel and you're boasting that the IDF is prepared? The time has come to achieve decisive victory."
