Smotrich Vows There Will Be Jewish Settlements in Gaza

The Israeli minister, who also holds a position in the Defense Ministry that gives him power to expand Jewish settlements in the West Bank, claimed settlements in Gaza were necessary for Israel’s security.

“So, we have patience, but we have determination, and faith, and with God’s help, we will continue the series of victories, and the big miracles,” Smotrich said at an event in the southern Israeli city of Sderot, according to The Times of Israel.

Smotrich has been one of the leading proponents of cleansing Gaza of its Palestinian population and establishing Jewish settlements in the territory, an idea that has significant support within the Israeli government.

While Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not publicly endorsed the idea of settling Gaza, he has expressed support for the ethnic cleansing of the territory, which he has referred to as the “Trump plan,” based on the president’s previous calls to remove Palestinians from the Strip.

Trump appears to have backed away from that idea as the outline for a ceasefire deal that was released by the White House says that “no one will be forced to leave Gaza and those who wish to leave will be free to do so and free to return.” But the details on a long-term truce have yet to be worked out. Israel and Hamas have only agreed to enter the first phase of a ceasefire, which Israel has already violated by limiting aid and continuing to kill Palestinians.