The United States has condemned recent statements by Israeli Ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben Gvir, advocating for the resettlement of Palestinians outside of Gaza. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller stated that Washington rejects these remarks, considering them seditious and reckless. Miller reiterated the U.S. position that Gaza is Palestinian land and will remain so, emphasizing the rejection of any notion of resettlement or expulsion of Palestinians.
Ben Gvir, Israel’s Public Security Minister, called for encouraging the emigration of Gaza’s residents, asserting it as a just and moral solution. Smotrich, the Finance Minister, also advocated for the return of Jewish settlers to Gaza, suggesting the encouragement of Palestinians to leave.
Israel withdrew its forces and settlers from Gaza in 2005, maintaining control over its borders. While there is no official plan to evict Gazans or resettle Jewish settlers, the statements by Ben Gvir and Smotrich have stirred controversy. The current war, sparked by Hamas attacks on October 7, has resulted in a significant number of casualties, with ongoing heavy combat causing a high rate of internal displacement in Gaza, reaching 85 percent, according to the United Nations.
