Israeli Finance Minister Calls for Occupation of Gaza, Population Reduction

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich on Monday advocated for Israel to occupy the Gaza Strip and promote “voluntary migration” to reduce its Palestinian population by half within two years. Speaking at a Jerusalem conference organized by the Yesha Council, which represents Israeli settlements in the West Bank, Smotrich said Israel “can and must occupy the Gaza Strip” following the ongoing conflict with Hamas.

“We shouldn’t shy away from this term [occupation],” Smotrich told attendees. He suggested that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) take responsibility for Gaza’s civilian administration to eliminate Hamas’ governance. Dismissing concerns about the financial burden, he argued that even if it costs billions of dollars, “if that’s what it takes to ensure Israel’s security, so be it.”

Smotrich proposed encouraging “voluntary migration” to decrease Gaza’s population of approximately 2.2 million. “It’s possible to create a situation where Gaza’s population is reduced to less than half its current size within two years,” he said, adding that this approach could serve as a “model” for the West Bank.

His remarks drew criticism, with opponents arguing that “voluntary migration” is a euphemism for forced displacement, which is considered a war crime under international law. The Israeli government, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has officially stated that reoccupying Gaza is not a goal of the current military operations against Hamas.

Smotrich also discussed the importance of working with the incoming Trump administration, noting that Israel must navigate the next two months carefully. “We need to breathe deeply, analyze the situation, identify opportunities, but proceed with great caution to get through this period without major harm,” he said.

The Gaza Strip has been under Hamas control since 2007 after Israel unilaterally withdrew in 2005. The recent conflict escalated following a large-scale attack by Hamas on communities in southern Israel on October 7, 2023, leading to ongoing Israeli military operations in the territory.