Israel's Finance Minister, Bezalel Smotrich, has once again made a statement reminiscent of ethnic cleansing in Gaza, calling on the remaining Gazans to leave the area in favor of Israelis, with the declared intention of benefiting Israelis.
Smotrich argues that reducing the population in Gaza could potentially change the dynamics of the region, making it more favourable for Israeli development.
The comments made by Smotrich, a member of the far-right Religious Zionist Party, have drawn widespread criticism, both domestically and internationally. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has urged the Biden administration to repudiate the remarks, labelling them as an "open call for the ethnic cleansing of Gaza."
Hamas, the Palestinian group governing Gaza, has denounced Smotrich's proposal as a "war crime accompanied by criminal aggression." They have called on the international community and the United Nations to take action against what they perceive as Israel's crimes.
Smotrich's controversial stance aligns with his far-right agenda, which has previously put him at odds with the official Israeli government position. Despite his exclusion from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's war cabinet discussions, Smotrich's remarks raise concerns about a potential shift in Israel's approach to Gaza.
The call for Palestinians to leave Gaza and the subsequent suggestion of making the desert bloom echoes a historical narrative that some observers believe implies a desire to reoccupy the region. Such sentiments harken back to the "Nakba," the ethnic cleansing of Palestine in 1948, which saw the displacement of Palestinians from their homes.
However, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has firmly rejected any attempts to force Palestinians out of their homes, emphasizing a commitment to preventing displacement in both the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.
Smotrich's proposal also adds complexity to the ongoing conflict in the region, as it contradicts the official government position that Palestinians in Gaza will be able to return to their homes after the war. This discrepancy highlights internal divisions within the Israeli political landscape.
While the Israeli Prime Minister, Netanyahu, has asserted Israel's display of unparalleled "morality" in the Gaza war, South Africa has taken a different stance. South Africa recently launched a case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) against Israel, accusing it of committing "genocidal" acts in Gaza. Netanyahu rejected these claims, attributing the alleged genocidal actions to Hamas, the Palestinian militant group.
As tensions rise and the conflict continues, clarity on Israel's long-term intentions for Gaza remains elusive. The international community, including the United States, has emphasized the importance of Palestinian governance in Gaza, but questions persist about the ultimate fate of the region and its inhabitants.