Rabat – Israel’s controversial Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has called on Palestinians to leave Gaza as his country continues a genocidal war against Palestinians in the besieged strip and the West Bank.
On Tuesday, Smotrich expressed support for a commentary piece by former Israeli ambassador to the UN Danny Danon and former deputy director of the Mossad Ram Ben-Barak, who suggested moving Palestinians to countries that agree to host them.
“I welcome the initiative of members of Knesset Ram Ben-Barak and Danny Danon on the voluntary immigration of Gaza Arabs to the countries of the world,” Smotrich wrote on his account on X, formerly Twitter.
He also described the controversial suggestion as “the right humanitarian solution for the residents of Gaza and the entire region.”
Smotrich further added insult to injury by claiming that the “reception of refugees by countries of the world that really want their best interests, with the support and generous financial assistance of the international community, and within the state of Israel is the only solution that will bring to the end of the suffering and pain of Jews and Arabs alike.”
Smotrich is not the first extremist minister to demand Palestinians’ departure from Gaza.
Last week, Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir made similar remarks, saying that “what’s needed here is an occupation.”
“When you have presence out on the ground, you have intelligence and control; you’re the landlord,” the extremist Israeli official said.
Earlier this month, Israel’s Minister of Heritage Amichay Eliyahu made similar controversial comments in which he delighted in the ongoing destruction of the Gaza Strip.
The minister posted a video of the demolition of homes and ruins in Gaza, with a scandalous caption reading: “Blow up and flatten everything, delightful. After we are done, we allocate the lands of Gaza to the soldiers fighting and the settlers who lived in Gush Katif.”
He also described war-torn Gaza as “more beautiful than ever.”
