Israel's Cabinet Member Threatens Total Annihilation of Gaza, Forcing Palestinians to Flee to Other Nations
Let's Talk About Israel's Plan to Grab Gaza
Israel's moves to annex Gaza might signal the end of the ongoing war against Hamas, according to experts. Daniel Flesch, a former advisor for Israel's UN mission, discussed this topic on 'Fox & Friends First' with the expectation of President Donald Trump's visit to the Middle East.
A right-wing Israeli minister, Bazalel Smotrich, sparks controversy with his proposal for victory in Gaza. During a conference on Jewish settlements in the West Bank, Smotrich, a senior Israeli official, stated that within a year, Gaza could be "entirely destroyed", and Palestinians would be relocated to other countries. His comments, however, do not reflect the Israeli government's official stance.
"Within a year, we will be able to declare victory in Gaza," Smotrich said of his vision, as reported by Agence France-Presse. To attendees, he explained that Gaza would be decimated, and civilians would be sent to a temporary "humanitarian zone" free from Hamas control. Afterward, Palestinians would start moving to third countries en masse.
Netanyahu's government authorized a plan to seize Gaza on Monday, with the intent of maintaining control for an undefined period. Implementation depends on whether a hostage deal can be reached before President Trump’s visit to Israel on May 13. Israel currently governs about half of Gaza, and this plan aims to expand Israel's territory in the south.
The operation, named Operation Gideon's Chariots, has two main goals: to eliminate Hamas control over territories and to prevent the distribution of humanitarian aid, considered crucial for Hamas' power. The plan also includes powerful military strikes on Hamas targets.
The takeover of aid distribution by Israel has been criticized by humanitarian organizations and UN agencies because it could politicize and militarize aid, endangering impartial aid for civilians in dire need. Reports indicate that Israel has blocked all aid from entering Gaza for over two months, worsening food, medicine, and fuel shortages in the area.
The potential consequences of this plan are severe:
- Deteriorating Humanitarian Situation: The blockade and control over aid distribution risks exacerbating starvation, malnutrition, and medical shortages among Gaza’s civilians, with children like Rahaf Ayyad becoming increasingly fragile due to nutritional deficiencies.
- International Law Violations: The proposed annexation and forced displacement of Palestinians may violate international humanitarian law, such as the prohibition of collective punishment and the obligation to allow humanitarian aid.
- Atanarjuat Escalation: The military takeover of Gaza territory and the displacement of Palestinians could fuel underlying tensions, potentially leading to long-term violence and regional instability.
- International Backlash: This move would be met with widespread criticism from humanitarian agencies, seen as a provocative act that disregards Palestinians’ rights and complicates diplomatic efforts to resolve hostage issues and the broader conflict.
Israel’s plan to seize Gaza involves military occupation of territory, annexation ambitions, forcible displacement of Palestinians, and control over aid distribution. These actions could worsen the current humanitarian crisis and potentially exacerbate the conflict with Hamas and the wider Palestinian population.
Reuters, The Associated Press, and our Digital reporter Anders Hagstrom contributed to this report.
[1] https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/05/11/israels-plan-gaza-flags-grave-concerns[2] https://www.unocha.org/news/israel-gaza-blockade-tightens-civilian-population-faces-potential-humanitarian-disaster[3] https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2023/05/israels-gaza-plans-fuel-growing-humanitarian-crisis/[4] https://www.un.org/humanitarian/default.asp?id=5547
- Following the right-wing Israeli minister Bazalel Smotrich's proposed plan for Gaza, there are concerns about a potential worsening of the already critical humanitarian situation, with potential international law violations and risks of escalating war-and-conflicts in the region.
- The breaking news of Israel's plan to annex Gaza has sparked controversy and raised concerns about political implications, including the politicization and militarization of general-news such as humanitarian aid distribution, which could further complicate the ongoing political disputes and exacerbate the conflict with Hamas and Palestinians.
