Knesset Conference Openly Advocates for Gaza Annexation and Removal

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a senior member of the defense ministry, told the assembly, "We will occupy Gaza and make it an inseparable part of Israel." Smotrich claimed that IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir supports a "security annexation," specifically proposing the establishment of three Jewish communities in northern Gaza. He further asserted that these efforts align with U.S. support for transforming the territory into a resort destination, a vision that necessitates the displacement of more than 2 million Palestinians.

While Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly denied plans for resettlement, the rhetoric at the "Gaza Riviera" conference mirrors recent intelligence leaks. Reports indicate that officials, including Mossad chief David Barnea, have explored relocating Gazans to countries such as Ethiopia, Indonesia, and Libya. Meanwhile, the physical landscape of the region continues to change, with over 70% of buildings destroyed and new "humanitarian city" projects in Rafah drawing sharp condemnation.

Former IDF Chief of Staff Moshe Yaalon labeled the ongoing systematic demolition and forced concentration of civilians as a series of war crimes. Critics, including Knesset member Kariv Galid and journalist Gideon Levy, argue that such policies represent a transition toward state-sanctioned ethnic cleansing. The event marks a significant departure from previous policy discussions, as these radical proposals moved from the fringes directly into the halls of the Israeli parliament.