Ambassador disavows minister’s claim that government pushing to wipe out Gazans

Israeli ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter says Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu was “wrong, foolish and totally unrepresentative” of Israel and its leadership in claiming that the government is racing to wipe out Gaza and make it completely Jewish.

In a tweet, Leiter says Eliyahu’s comments, which also included denying Israeli responsibility for starvation in the Strip, “do not reflect the policy of Prime Minister Netanyahu and his government.”

“The exact opposite is true. Despite the enormous difficulties of providing humanitarian aid to the non-combatant population of Gaza, we have done so with determination and commitment,” he says in a tweet.

“The government’s objective has been to create a mechanism that will amply supply Gazans with the aid they need, BUT NOT THROUGH HAMAS,” he adds. To provide aid through Hamas is to prolong the war.”

The quotes attributed to Minister Eliyahu to the effect that the government of Israel is “rushing towards Gaza being wiped out,” and that, “we don’t have to be concerned about hunger in the Strip,” do not reflect the policy of Prime Minister Netanyahu and his government.

The…

— Ambassador Yechiel (Michael) Leiter (@yechielleiter) July 24, 2025