Israeli Finance Minister Advocates for Palestinian Emigration From Postwar Gaza

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, of the far-right Religious Zionism party, proposed on Sunday that a substantial number of Palestinians should emigrate from Gaza after the war, paving the way for Israeli resettlement in the region. Smotrich, who is excluded from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s war cabinet, suggested this plan during an interview with Army Radio, emphasizing the need for a significant reduction in Gaza’s population to change the postwar narrative.

Smotrich’s remarks envision a scenario where a decreased Palestinian presence in Gaza, dropping from 2 million to about 100,000 or 200,000, would make the area more attractive for Israeli immigration. He argued that the current Gaza population harbors aspirations to destroy Israel and that reducing their numbers would facilitate Israeli settlement in the area.

This controversial proposal, however, is not in line with the Israeli government’s official position, which supports the return of Gazans to their homes after the war. Moreover, Smotrich’s vision faces substantial opposition within Israel, with public opinion polls indicating little interest in establishing new settlements in Gaza. In 2005, Israel withdrew unilaterally from the enclave, evacuating around 8,000 Israeli residents.

The United States and key Arab leaders, including Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, have firmly rejected any postwar plans involving the relocation of Gazans. Abbas declared a staunch opposition to any form of displacement, be it from Gaza or the West Bank.

While Netanyahu has said Israel would not maintain a permanent military occupation of Gaza after the war, he did indicate that a temporary military presence for an indeterminate period was likely.