Yisrael Beiteinu chairman Avigdor Liberman claimed Wednesday that approximately 50 Hamas Nukhba terrorists were spotted conducting an exercise simulating an assault and takeover of an Israeli community, but that IDF commanders were instructed not to attack them.

Speaking from the Kerem Shalom area after visiting a U.S. base expected to host an international force operating in Gaza, Liberman said IDF troops identified the terrorists during the overnight hours two nights earlier.

“IDF forces identified an exercise involving around 50 Nukhba terrorists. They practiced raiding and taking over a Jewish community,” Liberman said. “IDF commanders on the ground asked to act immediately, but the political echelon’s instruction was: ‘You don’t touch anyone. You don’t fire even a single shot.’”

Liberman accused the government of returning to the containment policies that preceded the October 7 massacre.

“We are completely back to the same concept and containment that brought us the October 7 massacre,” he charged, claiming that Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has surrendered Israel’s independence in security decision-making and that major Israeli actions now require coordination with the United States.

Liberman also alleged that Hamas continues to profit from goods entering Gaza, claiming that roughly 20% of the value of incoming merchandise ultimately reaches the terror group through taxes and other mechanisms.

He further accused the government of allowing hundreds of millions of dollars to enter Gaza through suppliers and claimed that Hamas-linked funds are being laundered through commercial transactions involving Turkey.

“This is simply bankruptcy,” Liberman said. “We weren’t in a situation like this even before October 7. This government has no right to exist.”

Following a meeting with security coordinators in Kibbutz Be’eri, Liberman said he had received additional information that he described as deeply concerning and accused Netanyahu of withholding details from both the public and members of the security cabinet.

“What I saw and heard is very worrying,” Liberman said. “I want to share with members of the political-security cabinet several details that the prime minister is hiding from them and from the public.”

Liberman did not publicly provide evidence for his claims, and there was no immediate confirmation from the IDF or Prime Minister’s Office regarding the alleged Nukhba exercise or an order preventing troops from striking the terrorists.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)