Smotrich on Gaza civilians: 'Let them die of hunger or surrender'
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The far-right Israeli ministers' starvation comments have sparked a fierce confrontation with military chief Eyal Zamir over "Israel’s" ongoing war strategy
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Far-right extremist ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich at a campaign event, on October 26, 2022 (AFP)
Far-right Israeli ministers have openly called for the starvation of Gaza’s population during a heated Cabinet meeting, according to Israeli media reports on August 24.
The confrontation centered on “Operation Gideon’s Chariots 2,” a planned large-scale offensive in Gaza City.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich pressed for harsher tactics against Palestinians who remain in the enclave, calling for letting them die as they starve or surrender.
“We ordered you (to carry out) a quick operation. In my opinion, you can besiege them. Whoever doesn’t evacuate, don’t let them. No water, no electricity – let them die of hunger or surrender,” Smotrich said, as quoted by Channel 12.
Read more: 'Gideon's Chariots' operation in Gaza is doomed to fail: Haaretz
Army chief Eyal Zamir pushes back against political pressure
The comments sparked a clash with army chief Eyal Zamir, who cautioned that the political demands were militarily unrealistic.
“We are operating in other areas, in Khan Younis and Rafah,” Zamir said, stressing that “military realities require time and careful planning.”
The debate escalated when far-right Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir accused Zamir of hesitation and questioned whether he was afraid of the military advocate general.
Smotrich further accused Zamir of defying political orders and blocking decisive action, saying, “This isn’t what the political leadership ordered. You don’t want to defeat Hamas.”
Zamir fired back, “You don’t understand anything. You don’t know what a brigade or battalion is. This takes time.”
Netanyahu and senior ministers stay silent amid US pressure
According to Israeli media, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and senior Cabinet members, including Israel Katz and Ron Dermer, did not intervene during the confrontation. Instead, they pointed to mounting US pressure for rapid solutions to the war on Gaza.
Read more: Netanyahu deliberately derailing truce with Gaza occupation: Hamas
The Cabinet is scheduled to reconvene on Tuesday to continue discussions on the planned Gaza offensive and a potential prisoner exchange deal, the Times of Israel reported.
Gaza death toll and international cases against 'Israel'
Since October 2023, "Israel" has killed more than 62,600 Palestinians in its genocide in Gaza, leaving the enclave devastated and starved.
International legal pressure on "Israel" continues to grow. Last November, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Security Minister Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
Read more: Israeli plot to invade Gaza death sentence for residents: Interior Min
Separately, "Israel" faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its ongoing war on the enclave.
