Israeli minister sparks outrage with call to erase Gaza and resettle Jews

In a series of inflammatory statements, Israeli Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu has called for the erasure of Gaza and its resettlement with Jewish populations, igniting a firestorm of criticism and condemnation both domestically and internationally.

During an interview on Radio Kol Barama on Thursday, July 24, Eliyahu, a member of the far-right Otzma Yehudit party, declared, “All of Gaza will be Jewish.” He further stated, “We are racing toward erasing Gaza,” and dismissed concerns about hunger in the besieged enclave, saying, “We shouldn’t be dealing with hunger in Gaza – let the world take care of them.”

Eliyahu said Gaza will be cleared for Jewish settlement, but added Jewish towns won’t be “fenced in inside cantons.” His comments come amid ongoing conflict and a dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza. According to local health authorities, more than 59,000 Palestinians have been killed since October 2023, with at least 113 deaths attributed to hunger. The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that Israel’s blockade has pushed Gaza to the brink of “mass starvation.” (Related: UN accuses Israel of starving Gaza civilians as hunger deaths mount)

Philippe Lazzarini, head of the United Nations’ Palestinian refugee agency (UNRWA), has urgently called on Israel to allow access for 6,000 aid trucks currently stalled in Egypt and Jordan. However, Israeli officials have accused Hamas and other armed groups of hoarding supplies and attacking civilians at distribution points.

Political backlash and international condemnation

Eliyahu’s remarks have drawn sharp criticism from across the political spectrum. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu quickly distanced himself from the comments, stating, “This government’s policy is clear and united. His statements do not represent it.” Israeli Ambassador to the United States Yechiel Leiter also condemned the remarks, calling them “wrong, foolish and totally unrepresentative of the government and people of Israel.”

Opposition leader Yair Lapid was particularly scathing in his response, describing Eliyahu’s words as “a moral attack and a propaganda disaster.” He argued, “Israel will never convince the world of the justice of our war against terror as long as we are led by an extremist minority government with ministers who sanctify blood and death.” Lapid emphasized that Israeli soldiers are fighting to return hostages and ensure Israel’s security, not to wipe out civilians.

Eliyahu’s comments reflect a growing trend of far-right rhetoric within Israeli politics, spearheaded by figures like Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. Smotrich recently participated in a conference at the Knesset titled “Riviera in Gaza – From Vision to Reality,” where a plan was presented to establish a lasting Jewish presence in the Gaza Strip. Smotrich revealed that the Israeli military chief of staff had suggested annexing the northern border of Gaza for security reasons.

The conference’s organizers claimed to have outlined “social, legal, security and logistical models” for the settlement proposal, but provided no further details. The event was attended by ministers, Knesset members, local council heads, security officials and representatives of hostage and bereaved families.

Warnings of consequences

Democratic MK Gilad Kariv warned that such rhetoric could have severe consequences. “Their positions are not aligned with any government or Knesset decisions, nor are they part of the war objectives set by the cabinet,” Kariv stated. “In fact, the leaders of the defense establishment oppose them.”

He cautioned that these words “endanger IDF soldiers and commanders, inflict strategic harm on Israel’s global standing, erode social cohesion within the country and undermine the values of the IDF and the fundamental principles of Israel as both a Jewish and democratic state.”

As the conflict in Gaza continues to unfold, the international community watches closely. The inflammatory remarks by Eliyahu and other far-right figures have raised concerns about the direction of Israeli policy and the potential for further escalation. The world waits to see how these tensions will play out and what impact they will have on the future of Gaza and the broader Middle East.

Follow WWIII.news for more news about Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza.

Watch the video below about an Israeli far-right group attempting to block humanitarian aid going to Gaza.

This video is from the Cynthia’s Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Former IDF minister admits Israel is ethnically cleansing Gaza to create Greater Israel.

Amid ceasefire, Gaza begins grim search for 10,000 bodies vanquished or lost in the rubble.

Israeli genocide of Gaza may be motivated by Palestine’s maritime natural gas reserves and desire to “wipe Gaza off the map.”

Sources include:

RT.com

TimesOfIsrael.com

JerusalemPost.com

Brighteon.com