Smotrich Calls for Starving Gaza and Attacks the Idea of a Palestinian State

Israeli Finance Minister, Bezalel Smotrich, today, Wednesday, called for cutting off water, electricity, and food supplies to the Gaza Strip, considering these measures necessary to weaken Hamas and prevent it from rebuilding its military capabilities.

Smotrich said in statements reported by Israeli media: "We must not accept any deals as long as Hamas is able to rebuild itself. Our goal is to undermine its military strongholds until we achieve its disarmament."

He added: "The security cabinet must make the decision regarding Gaza, and the army must implement it."

The hardline minister confirmed that "those who do not die from bullets will die from hunger," pointing out that the problems of Gaza's residents — as he described them — "can be solved if they are allowed to migrate voluntarily."

These statements come in the context of a broader trend of hardline Israeli rhetoric; Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had previously stated that he is living a "historic and spiritual mission" related to the vision of what is called "Greater Israel," which, according to the Israeli proposal, includes occupied Palestinian territories and parts of Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, and Egypt.

These positions have been met with widespread criticism in the Arab world; the Arab League condemned the statements and considered them an "infringement on the sovereignty of Arab countries and an attempt to undermine security and stability in the region."

In the same context, Smotrich reinforced his settlement positions by announcing the launch of a project to connect the Ma'ale Adumim settlement with Jerusalem after twenty years of delay, confirming that "the West Bank is part of Israel by divine promise," describing the idea of establishing a Palestinian state as a "existential threat to Israel," and emphasizing the continuation of settlement expansion to thwart this project.