Katz says government needs no approval to 'carry out targeted killings in Gaza'

• The remarks follow calls from Yashar party leader Gadi Eisenkot for regular security briefings.

'Israeli' Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Thursday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s caretaker government does not need approval from political opponents or legal authorities to direct the military, pushing back against opposition demands for restraint during 'Israel's' post-election transitional period.

אנחנו לא זקוקים לאישור מהאופוזיציה או משום גורם משפטי כדי להנחות את צה"ל לביצוע סיכולים בעזה, פעולות הגנה והתקפה בלבנון, שימור אזור הביטחון בסוריה להגנת יישובי הגולן, פינוי שכונת מחבלים בחברון - מבצע שהוכיח את עצמו מעל ומעבר ביצירת אפקט הרתעה חזק - והמשך הפעילות ההתקפית נגד הטרור ביהודה ושומרון. גם מול איראן הוכחנו נחרצות ושיקול דעת, בתיאום מלא עם צה"ל - וכך יהיה גם כעת בהתאם למה שיידרש. ביטחון ישראל לא נמצא במעבר ולא ממתין להליכים הפוליטיים שמתנהלים במקביל. יש ראש ממשלה אחד, שר ביטחון אחד שמנחים את צה"ל - וממשלה אחת שאחראית על קבלת ההחלטות בכל הנוגע לביטחון ישראל והגנת תושבי מדינת ישראל, וזאת כמובן תחת הפיקוח הקיים והמתבקש. כך היה וכך יהיה גם בעתיד.

— ישראל כ”ץ Israel Katz (@Israel_katz) November 12, 2026

In a statement posted on X, Katz stated that national security decisions cannot be paused while rival political factions attempt to assemble a new governing coalition following the Oct. 27 general election.

"We do not need approval from the opposition or any legal authority to direct the IDF to carry out targeted killings in Gaza, defensive and offensive operations in Lebanon, maintain the security zone in Syria to protect the Golan communities, clear a terrorist neighborhood in Hebron... and continue offensive operations against terrorism in Judea and Samaria," Katz wrote.

He added that the government has demonstrated "resolve and sound judgment toward Iran, in full coordination with the IDF," saying that "Israel's security is not on hold and is not waiting for the political processes taking place in parallel."

"There is one prime minister and one defense minister directing the IDF—and one government responsible for decision-making on all matters concerning Israel’s security and the protection of the citizens of the State of Israel, of course under the existing and appropriate oversight," Katz stated.

The statement came in direct response to Yashar party chair Gadi Eisenkot, who is currently leading negotiations to form an alternative governing bloc.

Eisenkot had urged Netanyahu to provide him with regular security updates and warned against deploying armed forces for non-urgent operations during the caretaker period.

Eisenkot also appealed to Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara to intervene and compel Netanyahu to brief him.

His request followed media reports alleging that Netanyahu had sought to launch a military operation against Iran despite pushback from senior security chiefs. Similar reports indicated that Netanyahu had pushed for action against Iran prior to the Oct. 27 vote, which defense officials reportedly resisted out of concern that an escalation could disrupt the election.

Katz's remarks also come just hours after an overnight 'Israeli' air strike hit the second floor of the Yassin Building inside Nasser Medical Complex in southern Gaza's Khan Younis, killing six Palestinians and wounding more than 20 others, including medical staff and patients.

While the 'Israeli' military claimed the operation targeted a senior Hamas operative and militants allegedly using the hospital as a command center, the Gaza Ministry of Health condemned the strike as a "grave assault on the healthcare system and a violation of international law," warning that repeated attacks on medical facilities threaten to force southern Gaza's largest remaining hospital completely out of service.