Finance Minister and Minister in the Defense Ministry Bezalel Smotrich called Sunday for Israel to fully conquer the Gaza Strip, establish a military government there, renew Jewish settlement and encourage voluntary emigration by Gazans who wish to leave.
Smotrich said full Israeli control was necessary to fulfill what he described as the central war aim established after the October 7 massacre: the destruction of Hamas militarily, civilly and as a governing force.
“The State of Israel must agree to take responsibility for Gaza,” Smotrich said, according to Olam Katan. “To conquer it completely, establish a military government there, establish Jewish settlement there, and afterward encourage the emigration of those who want to leave.” Smotrich also rejected the idea that an international force could be relied upon to disarm Hamas and take responsibility for Gaza in Israel’s place.
AFSI Insight
AFSI sees Smotrich’s call for full Israeli control of Gaza and renewed Jewish settlement as a serious recognition that Israel’s security cannot be entrusted to international bodies, Palestinian Police, Hamas, or other outside actors. After the October 7 massacre and years of terrorism from Gaza, AFSI has long argued that Israel must retain the security freedom necessary to prevent Gaza from again becoming a terrorist stronghold. Smotrich’s position also correctly recognizes the historic error of the 2005 Gaza disengagement and the danger of repeating it.
For AFSI, however, the essential question is what guarantees Israel’s long-term security: Hamas and other terror organzations in the Strip must be completely disarmed and eliminated as a military force. Civilains working with terrorists must also be completely disarmed and Israel must maintain enduring security control. Any discussion of Gaza’s future must begin with those requirements—not with pressure on Israel to withdraw before the terrorist threat has been removed.