Ben-Gvir: 'Israel is not another star on American flag'
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Israeli Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir refuses to remain silent, and once again attacks the US for criticizing the Israeli Nakba proposal for the Gaza Strip.
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Israeli Police Itamar Ben Gvir attends the weekly cabinet meeting in 'Tel Aviv', occupied Palestine, Sunday, Dec. 31, 2023. (AP)
"With all due respect we are not another star on the American flag," said Israeli Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir to the most prominent Israeli ally, the United States, in the latest tit-for-tat between the two.
The statement comes after the US criticized the Israeli plan to force Palestinians out of the Gaza Strip in a new Nakba.
In a post on X, Ben-Gvir said, "The United States is our best friend, but first of all we will do what is best for the State of Israel: the migration of hundreds of thousands from Gaza will allow the residents of the enclave to return home and live in security and protect the IDF soldiers."
Tit-for-tat between allies?
Earlier, the US denounced statements made by Ben-Gvir and Israeli Finance Minister Bezalil Smotrich, in which they said that Palestinians should be forced out of Gaza and replaced with settlers but reiterated its stance that Hamas and other Resistance groups should not be governing the besieged Strip in the future.
This comes as the US repeatedly announced that it will place no conditions on weapons and supplies provided to the occupation entity to conduct its war on Gaza.
State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller said Washington "rejects recent statements from Israeli Ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir advocating for the resettlement of Palestinians outside of Gaza."
"This rhetoric is inflammatory and irresponsible," he said, adding that it is the "clear, consistent, and unequivocal" US position that "Gaza is Palestinian land and will remain Palestinian land, with Hamas no longer in control of its future and with no terror groups able to threaten Israel."
Israeli far-right Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir called on Monday for "a solution to encourage the emigration of Gaza's residents."
This sentiment has been repeatedly announced by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his extremist Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.
Ben-Gvir considered that establishing settlements in Gaza after forcibly displacing its residents "is a correct, just, moral and humane solution."
Read more: 'Israel' would have fought with sticks, stones without US support
