War on Gaza: Israeli MPs meet to discuss settlement construction in Gaza
Members of the Israeli Knesset met to discuss the future of Gaza after the war and called for the recruitment of settlers ready to settle there.
Members of the Israeli Knesset met on January 4 to discuss the future of Gaza after the war and called for the recruitment of settlers ready to settle there, according to Israeli media.
Council heads, rabbis and public figures also attended the meeting.
According to Israeli News12, the Nachala movement, which is responsible for organizing settlers to form settlements in new areas, will meet on January 28 at its headquarters in Jerusalem to further discuss these issues.
The meeting was held “in the face of alarming signs of weakness regarding the next phase of fighting and a call for the creation of settlements in the Gaza Strip.”
The group said there is increased demand for new settlements in the Gaza Strip, and that “thousands” have applied to be part of a new settlement in that area.
At the January 28 meeting, maps and stages of the settlements proposed to be built in Gaza are expected to be presented.
The Nachala Movement also added that in previous conferences, members of the Knesset were also present and supported the process. These include people like Tali Gottlieb, Ariel Kellner and Limor Son Har Melech.
Nachala Movement President Daniela Weiss said: “After the terrible massacre of October 7, we hear every day from more ministers and Knesset members who understand that there is only one option to end end the fighting with the enemy in Gaza – and that is to return the land to the people of Israel and colonize Gaza with Jews”.
Mr. Weiss also told Israeli media that they should “have goals other than war” and “other than the destruction of Hamas and the recovery of hostages,” adding that they should make “the entire Gaza Strip a place for new Israeli communities.”
“There are about two million Arabs left in Gaza and they are not going to stay. They will leave for other countries. They no longer have any reason to stay there,” she added.
Weiss said she had scheduled two meetings with leaders from 15 different organizations to plan the resettlement of Gaza residents.
“Israel should create a problem for the Arabs, to the point that Egypt, Jordan and Turkey are forced to absorb them as refugees, as they did for Syria. We shouldn’t offer them anything to make them leave. I’m not focused on what’s best for them, but what’s best for Israel,” she said.
Recolonization of Gaza
Last week, far-right ministers called for the “recolonization of Gaza,” according to Israeli media.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said they “encouraged” the migration of Palestinians from Gaza, saying it was the solution to the war.
Mr. Ben Gvir added that he believed it was a “correct, just, moral and humane” solution and that “not only do I not exclude the possibility of a Jewish colony there, but I believe it is also an important thing”.
He added that “Israel will permanently control the territory of the Gaza Strip,” including through the establishment of settlements.
The day after these comments, the US State Department called the rhetoric “inflammatory and irresponsible”.
The State Department said that “such statements (must) cease immediately” and that “we have been clear, consistent and unequivocal that Gaza is Palestinian land and will remain Palestinian land, without Hamas has more control over its future and without any terrorist group being able to threaten Israel.”
The war on Gaza began following a Hamas attack on Israel, which left around 1,140 people dead. Since then, Israel has killed at least 22,000 Palestinians in Gaza and injured more than 50,000 others.
Since October 7, Gaza has been plunged into a deep humanitarian crisis, after Israel deprived the besieged enclave of fuel, food, water, electricity and aid since October 9.
Middle East Eye
Translation: AFPS
