Palestinians search a house after an Israeli air strike, in the city of Rafah, south of the Gaza Strip, on October 12 2023. (Abed Rahim Khatib/Flash90)
National Security Minister doubles down on support for promoting voluntary transfer of Gazans.
By World Israel News Staff
In an interview with Kan News, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir doubled down on his support for a proposal for voluntary migration of Palestinians from Gaza after the war.
“I support voluntary resettlement. Take them and send them away,” he said.
Ben-Gvir continued, “I think that hundreds of thousands of them will leave with how Gaza looks today.”
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich also supported a move to “encourage voluntary emigration” of Palestinians from Gaza and raised the possibility of Israel resettling the area after the war.
Ben-Gvir told Kan, “When you are out in the field the enemy has a harder time. Hamas and the Palestinians want to destroy all of us.”
He added, “The misconception that lasted for 20 years of retreating, allowing workers in, and giving them money for quiet must end.”
Ben-Gvir doubled down after a US State Department official strongly criticized the proposal of voluntary resettlement.
State Department spokesperson Mathew Miller issued a statement slamming recent comments by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich (Religious Zionist Party) and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir (Otzma Yehudit), both of whom called for Israel to encourage and facilitate mass Arab emigration from the Gaza Strip.
“The United States rejects the inflammatory and irresponsible statements from Israeli Ministers Smotrich and Ben-Gvir. There should be no mass displacement of Palestinians from Gaza,” Miller said.
“We have been told repeatedly and consistently by the Government of Israel, including by the Prime Minister, that such statements do not reflect the policy of the Israeli government. They should stop immediately.”
Miller emphasized that US policy was to ensure that Gaza remained Palestinian after the war with with Hamas no longer in control of its future and with no terror groups able to threaten Israel.
Ben-Gvir took to X and warned America to stay out of Israel’s affairs.
“I have great respect for the United States of America, but with all due respect, we are not another star on the American flag.”
He emphasized that the interests of Israel come first to the Israeli government.
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