An Israeli minister has called for Gaza to be “entirely destroyed” and its people relocated, as the Netanyahu government prepares for a potential long-term occupation if no hostage deal is reached.
Key Facts:
- Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said Gaza should be “entirely destroyed” and Palestinians moved to other countries.
- His statement came at a Tuesday conference on West Bank Jewish settlements.
- Prime Minister Netanyahu’s Cabinet approved a plan to take over Gaza indefinitely if no hostage deal is reached by May 13.
- The operation, dubbed “Gideon’s Chariots,” aims to expand Israeli control over Gaza and block Hamas from receiving aid.
- Israel currently controls about 50% of Gaza and plans a gradual military expansion into the south.
The Rest of The Story:
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich made sweeping comments this week, saying that victory over Hamas would only come when Gaza is completely destroyed and Palestinians begin relocating to third countries.
Speaking at a pro-settlement conference in the West Bank, Smotrich outlined a vision that involved moving civilians to a “humanitarian zone” before encouraging their departure from the region entirely.
While Smotrich is a senior official, his comments do not reflect official Israeli policy.
However, they align with a newly approved plan by Prime Minister Netanyahu’s Cabinet.
The plan, pending the outcome of hostage negotiations, would establish long-term Israeli control over Gaza, expand military operations into the southern region, and block Hamas from receiving humanitarian aid.
"We are finally going to conquer Gaza," Israeli finance minister Bezalel Smotrich has told a pro-settler conference in Jerusalem. Israeli cabinet ministers approved plans to capture the entire Gaza Strip on Monday.
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— SBS News (@SBSNews) May 6, 2025
Commentary:
The people of Gaza have made their choice.
Hamas did not rise by accident.
It was elected, embraced, and celebrated by a population that has shown little interest in peace and plenty of support for terror.
After decades of rocket attacks, kidnappings, and massacres—most recently on October 7—Israel is now taking decisive steps to end the cycle.
Calls for ceasefires and restraint ring hollow when the enemy uses civilians as human shields and schools as weapons depots.
Israel, like any nation, has the right to defend itself—and more importantly, the duty to make sure atrocities don’t happen again.
That means uprooting Hamas completely, not just containing it.
Smotrich’s comments may sound extreme to outsiders, but they reflect the growing view among Israelis that coexistence with a terrorist entity next door is not just impossible—it’s suicidal.
Gaza has been offered peace many times. Each time, it chose war.
Relocation and humanitarian zones may sound harsh, but they are strategic tools to separate civilians from combatants and reduce collateral damage.
Those in Gaza who truly want peace should take that opportunity.
Operation Gideon’s Chariots is not a war of conquest; it’s a war of survival.
And Israel is not obligated to retreat from land simply to please international critics, especially when doing so would put more lives at risk.
The Bottom Line:
Israel is preparing to escalate its operations in Gaza with a long-term plan to dismantle Hamas and potentially reshape the region.
Smotrich’s comments, while not official policy, echo growing frustration inside Israel with the cycle of violence.
For a population that continues to support terror, the consequences are unfolding.
Peace was an option—but war is the one they chose.
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