Gaza should be ‘completely destroyed’ and its people moved to ‘third countries’, says Israeli minister
Gaza will soon be “completely destroyed” and emptied of the millions of Palestinians still living there, a far right Israeli minister has vowed, a day after Israel’s cabinet approved a plan to capture the enclave and occupy it indefinitely.
Israeli security minister Bezalel Smotrich, speaking at the “settlements conference” in the illegal West Bank settlement of Ofra, said Israel is within months of declaring victory in the Strip, which is suffering from a two-month blockade of aid.
“Gaza will be totally destroyed,” he said. “In another six months Hamas won’t exist as a functioning entity.”
He added that the population of Gaza will be sent to a small humanitarian zone in the south, from where they will be forced to look at relocating to third countries.
“They will be totally despairing, understanding that there is no hope and nothing to look for in Gaza, and will be looking for relocation to begin a new life in other places,” he said.
The far right minister, leading a key element of Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition government, has blocked attempts at ending the war in Gaza and promotes illegal settlements in the West Bank. He expressed his hope that the territory would be formally annexed during the current government’s term.
He has previously opposed Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza even if there is a new hostage deal to release the remaining Israeli captives.
On Monday, Mr Netanyahu’s cabinet approved plans to seize the Gaza Strip and station troops there indefinitely and in a video message he said a new offensive in Gaza will be an intensive military operation.
“Population will be moved, for its own protection,” Mr Netanyahu said, adding that Israeli soldiers won’t go into Gaza, launch raids and then retreat. “The intention is the opposite of that.”
A defence official said the operation would not be launched until after US president Donald Trump’s upcoming visit to the Middle East, suggesting the plan could be another measure by Israel to try to pressure Hamas into making concessions in ceasefire negotiations.
Army chief Eyal Zamir said Israel’s military was “increasing the pressure” to secure the return of hostages held in Gaza as the prime minister vowed to continue the war.
“This week, we are sending tens of thousands of draft orders to our reserve personnel to intensify and expand our action in Gaza. We are increasing the pressure to return our people and defeat Hamas,” he said on Sunday.
He added that the Israeli military would “operate in additional areas and destroy all of [Hamas’s] infrastructure above and below ground”.
Meanwhile, Mr Netanyahu has called up “tens of thousands” of reservists who will be deployed to Israel’s border with Lebanon and in the occupied West Bank, replacing regular soldiers who will lead the new offensive in Gaza.
