From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, May 6, 2025
Smotrich: Gaza will be ‘totally destroyed’ within months, population ‘concentrated’ in narrow border area
Jeremy Sharon is The Times of Israel’s legal affairs and settlements reporter
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich says that within half a year the Gazan population will be “concentrated” in a narrow strip of land between the border with Egypt and the Morag Corridor running the width of Gaza between Khan Younis and the border city of Rafah.
He adds that Gaza will “totally destroyed,” that the entire territory north of the Morag Corridor will be “empty,” and that in six months Hamas will not be a functioning entity.
The ultranationalist minister also says that Israel will “apply sovereignty” in the West Bank during the tenure of the current government.
“Within a few months we will be able to declare that we have won. Gaza will be totally destroyed,” Smotrich says at the “Settlements Conference” in the West Bank settlement of Ofra, organized by the Makor Rishon newspaper.
“In another six months Hamas won’t exist as a functioning entity… The population of Gaza will be concentrated from the Morag Corridor southwards. The rest of the Strip will be empty.”
Adds the finance minister: “The Gazan citizens will be concentrated in the south. They will be totally despairing, understanding that there is no hope and nothing to look for in Gaza, and will be looking for relocation to begin a new life in other places.”
Smotrich has been an ardent advocate of building new Israeli settlements in Gaza following the October 7, 2023, Hamas atrocities, as well as “encouraging” the emigration of Gaza’s civilian population out of the territory.
Asked about steps to annex the West Bank, the finance minister says, “It will happen this term. It is one of our most important challenges. We are at a historic opportunity.”
The Times of Israel Community.