Smotrich urges Netanyahu to conquer Gaza, establish military rule and settlements

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has called for Israel to completely take over the Gaza Strip, establish a military government, and permit Jewish settlements in the area. Speaking to students at the Sderot Yeshiva, Smotrich asserted that Israeli security is intrinsically linked to settlement presence.

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There is no one in the world who will do the work for us. There is no country in the world that will send its soldiers to shed their blood and forcibly disarm Hamas.

"Over time it has been proven that where there is settlement, there is an army and there is security, and where there is no settlement, over time there is no army and there is no security," he stated. Smotrich also voiced his support for encouraging voluntary emigration from Gaza, a stance popular among the Israeli right-wing.

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The State of Israel must agree to take responsibility for Gaza. To conquer it completely, establish a military government there, establish Jewish settlement there.

The minister criticized U.S. President Donald Trump's plan for Gaza, which proposes an international force for security control. "There is no one in the world who will do the work for us. There is no country in the world that will send its soldiers to shed their blood and forcibly disarm Hamas," Smotrich told the students.

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over time it has been proven that where there is settlement, there is an army and there is security, and where there is no settlement, over time there is no army and there is no security.

He emphasized a stark choice for Israel: "Either the State of Israel will courageously rule Gaza and tell the entire world, 'We will not allow two million, or 1.8 million, Nazis to live on our border and plot against our communities and our children,' or terror will rule Gaza." Smotrich reiterated his position of "conquest, military government, settlement."

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It is either us or them.