As Flag March ends, Smotrich urges settling Gaza, says Israel no longer ‘afraid of the word occupation’

By Charlie Summers

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26 May 2025, 9:19 pm

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Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich calls for Jewish settlement in the Gaza Strip, while addressing religious Zionist revelers on Jerusalem Day, as the annual Flag March reaches its conclusion at the Western Wall.

“Are we afraid of victory?” the far-right minister asks the crowd, which responds with a chorus of “no.”

“Are we afraid of the word ‘occupation?'” to which the revelers again answer “no,” en masse.

“Are we settling the Land of Israel? Are we liberating Gaza?” he shouts, to cheers of approval from among the tens of thousands gathered at the holy site. “We are triumphing over the enemy!”