Smotrich calls on Netanyahu to conquer Gaza, establish military government and settlements

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to command the IDF to fully occupy the Gaza Strip and allow Jewish settlements there, during a speech to students at the Sderot Yeshiva on Sunday. Smotrich made these remarks in the company of Yeshiva head Rabbi David Fendel and Sderot Mayor Alon Davidi, following a day and night of Hamas terrorist strikes in the Strip and progress on US President Donald Trump's 15-point plan for Hamas disarmament.

Smotrich argued that Israel must assume full responsibility for Gaza and that the country's security would not be assured without settlements. He maintained that settlements foster military presence and security, as opposed to areas without settlements, which see a decline in both over time. Smotrich also advocated for voluntary resettlement from Gaza, a stance favored by the Israeli right-wing, to be promoted by the government.

He dismissed President Trump's 20-point Gaza plan, which proposes an international force to oversee security in Gaza, stating that no country would send its soldiers to disarm Hamas forcefully. Smotrich, who has been advocating for Israel to govern Gaza since the onset of the war, declared that either Israel would take control and warn the world against two million or 1.8 million terrorists living near its borders, or Hamas would continue to rule Gaza.

He directed his remarks towards the students, reiterating his stance on conquest, a military government, and settlements.