Israeli minister suggests establishing Israeli settlements in Gaza
3 Min Read
Israeli "Social Equality" Minister Amichai Chikli does not rule out Israeli settlements in Gaza, particularly in strategic areas, while proposing Egyptian and Emirati control over specific regions.
-
Israel Minister Amichai Chikli on January 19, 2023. (AFP)
Israeli "Social Equality" Minister Amichai Chikli has not ruled out the possibility of establishing Israeli settlements in the Gaza Strip, particularly in areas deemed sensible, according to Israeli media.
Chikli, a member of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party, conveyed to "Israel's" Ynet that the Palestinian Authority should not be involved in the administration of Gaza following the war, echoing the consistent position of the occupation's prime minister.
He adds that he doesn’t rule out Israeli settlements being established in the Gaza Strip "in certain parts where it makes sense." On that note, he urges "thinking out of the box" regarding potential solutions, suggesting for example that "Rafah can be under Egyptian control and Khan Younis under Emirati control."
This comes after Israeli media outlets reported on an escalating disagreement within the Israeli war cabinet regarding the continuation of aggression on Gaza and negotiations with Hamas for the release of the remaining captives.
Reports cited prominent opposition figure Benny Gantz as saying that he believes that "Israel needs to find an opportunity to resume the operation," while cabinet member and Minister of Security Yoav Gallant, along with Netanyahu, think they should wait for a signal from the Resistance group indicating its desire for another deal -- a signal that has not yet arrived.
Netanyahu wants control over Gaza
A few days ago, the Israeli occupation could not even maintain a foothold anywhere in Gaza without its forces being fiercely confronted and pushed back by the Palestinian Resistance, and it is already talking about what would happen in the wake of its invasion of the Palestinian strip.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on December 11, during a discussion of the Foreign Affairs and Security Committee, that he was opposed to the Palestinian Authority taking control of the Gaza Strip after the aggression ends, the Israeli Maariv newspaper reported.
"The Palestinian Authority will not be able to control Gaza under any circumstances," the Israeli premier maintained.
"Security responsibility will remain under the State of Israel. The difference between Hamas and the Palestinian Authority is only that Hamas wants to destroy us here and now, and the Authority wants to do it in stages," he said, despite the PA being recognized by the Israeli occupation as a representative of the Palestinian people.
Meanwhile, Knesset Member Merav Michaeli claimed that there needs to be a "political vision" alongside military action.
