At settlements conference, Ben Gvir repeats call for ‘voluntary emigration’ of Palestinians

National Security Minister and ultranationalist leader Itamar Ben Gvir says that Israel should “encourage voluntary emigration” of Palestinians as part of the country’s response to the October 7 atrocities during an address to the resettle Gaza conference in Jerusalem.

He also calls for the rebuilding of settlements in the Gaza Strip and says that he and others warned that the 2005 Disengagement from Gaza would bring about increased terrorism from the territory.

“Part of defeating this concept is to go home to Gush Katif and northern Samaria,” he adds.

“We must fulfill what our Torah says, ‘You will inherit the inhabitants of the land so that they do not become thorns in your side,’ we must encourage them to leave,” Ben Gvir continues.

“I turn to you Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu,” he says accompanied by boos from the crowd.

“It would be a shame to wait another 15 years to go back to Gush Katif. This is the time to return to home, to build settlements, for the death penalty for terrorists and the time for victory.”

Activists hold up a placard stating, “Only transfer will bring peace” at a conference urging revived Jewish settlement in Gaza, at the International Conference Center in Jerusalem, January 28, 2024 (Jeremy Sharon / Times of Israel)

Activists hold up a placard stating: “Only transfer will bring peace.

Ben Gvir says: “To encourage voluntarily, yes; to encourage voluntarily, you’re right. To encourage them voluntarily to go away from here, you’re right.”