Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a prominent figure in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu‘s right-wing coalition, has reiterated his controversial call for Palestinian residents of Gaza to emigrate. During an interview with Israeli Army Radio, Smotrich suggested that reducing the Arab population in Gaza from two million to about 100,000 or 200,000 would significantly alter the region’s dynamics post-conflict. He envisioned a scenario where Israelis could then inhabit Gaza and “make the desert bloom.”
Smotrich’s comments have been widely criticized and are seen by many as underscoring fears that Israel seeks to displace Palestinians from territories where they aspire to establish a future state. This concern harks back to the mass dispossession of Palestinians during the 1948 war that accompanied Israel’s creation, often referred to as the “Nakba” or catastrophe.
A displaced Palestinian woman, who fled her houses due to Israeli strikes, stands in a tent, following heavy rains at tent camps, as the conflict between Israel and Hamas continues, in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip December 13, 2023. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem
In response to Smotrich’s statements, Hamas, the Islamist movement that controls Gaza, condemned the call for displacement, labeling it as “a war crime accompanied by criminal aggression.” The group urged the international community and the United Nations to take action against Israel’s actions and hold it accountable.
Furthermore, Smotrich’s views do not align with the official Israeli government position, which maintains that Palestinians in Gaza will be able to return to their homes following the conflict with Hamas. The conflict, now in its fourth month, has significantly affected the approval ratings of Smotrich’s party and has led to a broader debate within Israel regarding the future of Israeli settlements in Gaza.
The Israeli government, under Netanyahu’s leadership, had previously withdrawn its military and settlers from Gaza in 2005 after a 38-year occupation. Netanyahu has stated that Israel does not intend to maintain a permanent presence in Gaza but will continue to exert security control indefinitely. The lack of clarity on Israel’s long-term intentions for Gaza and the divergent views within the Israeli government continue to contribute to the complexities surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
