Hamas condemns far-right Israeli Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s remarks as ‘an official name to exterminate’ Palestinians.
Printed On 28 Aug 2025
Far-right Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has known as for Israel to annex the Gaza Strip if Hamas refuses to disarm, the newest push by an Israeli official to forcibly displace Palestinians and take full management of the coastal enclave.
Throughout a information convention on Thursday, Smotrich mentioned if Hamas doesn’t comply with give up, disarm and launch Israeli captives, Israel ought to annex a bit of Gaza every week for 4 weeks.
He mentioned Palestinians would first be advised to maneuver south in Gaza, adopted by Israel imposing a siege on the territory’s north and centre areas, and ending with annexation.
“This may be achieved in three to 4 months,” mentioned Smotrich, describing the measures as a part of a plan to “win in Gaza by the top of the yr”.
The far-right minister’s annexation push comes because the Israeli military has superior deeper into Gaza Metropolis in an effort to grab the town and forcibly displace about a million Palestinians residing there.
Israel’s intensified assaults on Gaza Metropolis have been broadly condemned, with United Nations Secretary-Basic Antonio Guterres warning final week that the marketing campaign would trigger “large demise and destruction”.
In the meantime, Gaza Metropolis and the encompassing areas proceed to expertise famine as Israel continues to dam meals, water and different humanitarian help from getting into the Strip.
“Famine is not a looming chance; it’s a present-day disaster,” Guterres mentioned on Thursday.
“Individuals are dying of starvation. Households are being torn aside by displacement and despair. Pregnant ladies are going through unimaginable dangers, and the techniques that maintain life – meals, water, healthcare – have been systematically dismantled.”
Israel and its Western allies have lengthy been pushing for Hamas to put down its weapons, insisting that the Palestinian group can’t be concerned in any future governance of Gaza.
Hamas rejected Smotrich’s remarks on Thursday, saying they signify “an official name to exterminate our individuals” in addition to “an official admission of the use of hunger and siege in opposition to harmless civilians as a weapon”.
“Smotrich’s assertion is just not an remoted extremist opinion, however somewhat a declared authorities coverage that has been applied for practically 23 months” of Israel’s warfare on Palestinians within the enclave, Hamas mentioned in an announcement.
“These statements expose the fact of the occupation to the world and ensure that what is going on in Gaza is just not a ‘army battle’ however somewhat a venture of genocide and mass displacement,” the group added, urging the worldwide group to carry Israeli leaders accountable.
Throughout his information convention, Smotrich known as on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to undertake his annexation plan “in full instantly”.
Netanyahu didn’t remark publicly on Smotrich’s remarks. However the Israeli chief has alluded to a plan for Israel to “take management of all Gaza” and ship troops to reoccupy the whole enclave.
Israel’s army has for weeks been issuing forcible evacuation notices to Palestinians in so-called “fight zones” to relocate to southern Gaza.
Smotrich, a serious backer of Israel’s settler motion who himself lives in an unlawful settlement within the occupied West Financial institution, has expressed assist for re-establishing unlawful settlements within the Gaza Strip that have been dismantled in 2005.
He and different far-right members of Netanyahu’s governing coalition even have voiced staunch opposition to efforts to succeed in a deal to finish Israel’s warfare on Gaza, threatening to topple the federal government if an settlement is reached.
