The far-right Finance Minister of Israel, Bezalel Smotrich, has stirred controversy with his proposition to relocate a significant portion of Gaza's population, stating it as a means to address Israel's security concerns post-war, as reported by Haaretz newspaper.
In a radio interview, Smotrich advocated for the removal of around 90 percent of Gaza's residents, envisioning a scenario with a significantly reduced population of 100,000 to 200,000 Palestinians rather than the current two million. He argued that such a drastic reduction could substantially alter the discourse surrounding Gaza's future and contribute to Israel's security objectives.
The minister emphasized Israel's need for control over Gaza's territory and suggested a considerable reduction in the number of Palestinian inhabitants as a critical step towards fulfilling security goals.
Smotrich's remarks add to a series of troubling statements by Israeli lawmakers, indicating support for the mass expulsion of Gazans to safeguard Israel's security in the aftermath of conflict.
Likud MK Danny Danon echoed sentiments of facilitating Gazans' departure for other nations as a humanitarian gesture. He emphasized the notion of voluntary migration for Palestinians seeking to leave, claiming to have received interest from countries in Latin America and Africa willing to accommodate Gaza refugees.
Intelligence Minister Gila Gamliel previously proposed a similar idea in an op-ed, urging Western nations to consider accepting residents from the Gaza Strip for voluntary resettlement.
However, following the publication of Gamliel's op-ed, the Israeli Embassy in Washington clarified that these suggestions did not reflect official government policy, indicating a divergence between individual lawmakers' statements and the government's stance.
(With Agency Inputs)
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