Far-right Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has called for the occupation of Gaza and reducing its population by half through “voluntary emigration.”
Speaking on Monday at an event organised by the Yesha Council, representing Israeli settlers in the West Bank, Smotrich stated, “We can and must conquer the Gaza Strip; we should not be afraid of that word.”
He added, “There is no doubt that in Gaza—with the encouragement of voluntary emigration—there is here, in my opinion, a unique opportunity that is opening up with the new administration,” referring to Donald Trump’s re-election. Smotrich claimed this could reduce Gaza’s population by half within two years.
Smotrich, leader of the ultranationalist Religious Zionism party, has previously faced criticism for incendiary remarks. In August, he suggested starving Gaza’s population of two million to secure the release of Israeli hostages, drawing international condemnation.
On November 14, Human Rights Watch (HRW) accused Israel of crimes against humanity, alleging its displacement of Gazans amounted to ethnic cleansing. Israel rejected these claims as completely false.
The European Union’s outgoing foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, described Israel’s actions in Gaza as increasingly resembling ethnic cleansing in a November 11 social media post.
Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir also faced backlash in January over their advocacy for a “voluntary transfer” of Gaza’s 2.4 million residents. The United States labelled their remarks as irresponsible.
Israel occupied Gaza in 1967, maintaining troops and settlements until withdrawing in 2005. Since then, it has imposed a blockade and, during the ongoing war, a near-total siege.
The current conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched an attack on Israel, killing 1,207 people, mostly civilians. Israel’s retaliation has resulted in 44,249 deaths in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry figures considered reliable by the United Nations.
While Smotrich has advocated resettling Jewish settlers in Gaza, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dismissed the idea despite support from other far-right coalition members.
