Smotrich Says Gaza Should Be Wiped Out for Zionist Security Reasons

Background and Settlement Expansion

Smotrich, a West Bank settler who also oversees civilian affairs in the occupied territory, has backed settlement expansion intended to prevent Palestinian statehood. In July, he announced more than $400 million for 34 new settlements. The E1 project east of Jerusalem has drawn international condemnation for threatening to fragment a future Palestinian state.

That expansion has accompanied escalating settler violence. UN figures cited in July showed that at least 117 Palestinian communities had been completely or partially displaced by settler attacks.

Territorial rhetoric has also extended beyond Gaza and the West Bank. Netanyahu has expressed support for a "Greater Israel" vision, while US envoy to Israel Mike Huckabee told Tucker Carlson in February that "it would be fine if they took it all" when asked about Jewish biblical claims stretching from the Nile to the Euphrates.

Casualty Figures and Legal Findings

Israel launched its offensive in Gaza following the Hamas-led attacks of October 7, 2023, which killed around 1,200 Israelis, mostly civilians. More than 74,000 Palestinians, including at least 21,000 children, have since been killed in Gaza, according to local health authorities.

A UN commission concluded last year that Israel had committed genocide in Gaza, while the International Criminal Court has separately issued warrants for Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.

What Comes Next

Smotrich's latest remarks reinforce the stated goals of senior Israeli officials to pursue permanent control over Gaza. Israel has rejected the genocide findings and the ICC warrants, and no change in that position has been announced.

No formal policy shift has been confirmed in response to the minister's comments, and further official reactions were not immediately available.