As claims continue to rebuild Jewish settlements in the Gaza Strip
Israel’s finance minister and security minister sharply criticize
As voices emerged within the Israeli government calling for relocating Palestinian residents in the Gaza Strip and rebuilding settlements, the U.S. government issued a warning to stop irresponsible agitation.
The U.S. State Department said in a statement on the 2nd (local time) by spokesman Matthew Miller, “The United States rejects recent statements by Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gbir calling for Palestinians to be moved out of the Gaza Strip. “He criticized, “Such investigations are inflammatory and irresponsible.”
The State Department emphasized, “We have been consistently and repeatedly informed by the Israeli government, including the Prime Minister, that such comments do not reflect the policies of the Israeli government,” and added, “They must stop immediately.”
Key figures in the Israeli cabinet have recently voiced calls for settlement reconstruction, making the international community nervous. Israel evacuated Jewish settlements from Gaza in 2005.
At a New Year’s event the previous day, Minister Ben Gbir reportedly described the war in the Gaza Strip as an opportunity and argued that the Benjamin Netanyahu government should encourage the migration of Palestinian residents in the Gaza Strip.
He also said that the return of Jewish residents to Gaza was “an accurate, just, moral and humane solution” and argued for the reconstruction of settlements.
Just a day ago, Minister Smotrich also appeared on a radio program and said, “What the Gaza Strip needs is to encourage external migration,” and added, “If there were only 100,000 to 200,000 Arabs in the Gaza Strip instead of 2 million, future discussions would be completely different.” He said.
This argument conflicts with the ‘two-state solution’ that the United States proposed as an alternative after the conflict between Israel and Hamas. Accordingly, the government has issued a warning through an official statement.
The State Department emphasized, “The United States has been clear, persistent, and consistent that Gaza is and will remain the land of the Palestinian people, that Hamas can no longer control its future, and that no terrorist group can threaten Israel.” .
He added, “This is the future we pursue for the benefit of Israelis and Palestinians, the surrounding region, and the world.”
U.S. Secretary of State Tony Blinken, who is visiting Israel on the 5th, is also expected to meet with Cabinet members and emphasize this point again.
Secretary Blinken will visit Israel again to discuss a ceasefire, and will visit the West Bank, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Qatar in addition to Israel. This is Secretary Blinken’s fifth visit to Israel since Hamas’ raid on Israel in October last year.
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Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.