From the Liveblog of
Sunday, December 1, 2024
Ben Gvir says he’s seeing ‘some openness’ from Netanyahu on ‘encouraging migration’ from Gaza
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Far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir says Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is showing “some openness” over the idea of “encouraging migration” of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip.
“Ideas like settlement in Gaza are welcome; the only times we defeated our enemies were when we took territory from them,” he tells Army Radio. “But that doesn’t satisfy me. I also want to encourage emigration [of Palestinians from Gaza].”
“I am working hard to promote the encouragement of migration from Gaza with the prime minister, and I am beginning to discover some openness on the matter,” he says.
When pushed, the minister will not definitively say the premier supports the so-called “transfer” of the Gaza population.
Ben Gvir also calls for the fighting to be intensified in Gaza.
“We have a historic opportunity to collapse Hamas. We have a historic opportunity to restore deterrence, reoccupy the Gaza Strip and encourage voluntary emigration. This is what will bring peace to the south,” he says.
The Israeli far right has been pushing for population transfer and “voluntary migration” of Palestinians from Gaza, and the reestablishment of Jewish settlements in their place.
Netanyahu has repeatedly said such actions are not the goal of the war, nor are they on the agenda.
Former defense minister and IDF chief of staff Moshe Ya’alon said yesterday that Israel’s leadership, driven by far-right elements who seek to resettle Gaza, was taking the country down a path of ethnic cleansing in the Gaza Strip, and warned that Netanyahu’s government was leading the nation to “destruction.”
The Times of Israel Community.