Israeli Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu has made provocative remarks that have drawn widespread condemnation, suggesting Israel is on track to ‘erase’ Gaza, asserting that the territory will one day be entirely Jewish. The comments, which were made in an interview with Radio Kol Barama, have sparked alarm and criticism from both within and outside Israel. Eliyahu, a prominent far-right politician representing the Otzma Yehudit party, dismissed concerns about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, including the threat of man-made hunger, stating, ‘Thank God we are erasing this evil. All of Gaza will be Jewish.’ His remarks have fueled concerns about the potential for increased militarization and the ethical implications of Israel’s actions in the region.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu swiftly distanced himself from Eliyahu’s statements, emphasizing that the government’s policy remains clear and united. In a statement, Netanyahu called the comments ‘not representative of the government and people of Israel,’ highlighting the importance of maintaining a coherent political stance amidst domestic and international scrutiny. The Prime Minister’s response underscores the delicate balance Israel must strike between its national security objectives and its obligations under international law and humanitarian principles.
Israeli Ambassador to the US, Yechiel Leiter, also condemned Eliyahu’s remarks, labeling them as ‘wrong, foolish, and totally unrepresentative of the government and people of Israel.’ Leiter emphasized that Israel is committed to facilitating the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gazan civilians, albeit under strict conditions that exclude Hamas from the aid distribution process. This stance reflects the Israeli government’s broader strategy of ensuring that aid reaches those in need while simultaneously undermining the operational capacity of militant groups operating in the region.
Meanwhile, the humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate, with reports indicating that over 59,000 Palestinians have been killed since October 2023, including at least 113 who died from starvation. World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has warned that Israel’s blockade has pushed the enclave to the brink of mass starvation, highlighting the severe consequences of the ongoing conflict. The UN’s Palestinian refugee agency, UNRWA, has called for immediate access to allow 6,000 aid trucks to enter Gaza, which are currently stalled in neighboring countries. Despite these appeals, Israeli officials have accused Hamas and other armed groups of hoarding supplies and attacking civilians at distribution points, further complicating efforts to provide aid to the civilian population.
International reactions to Eliyahu’s remarks have been largely condemnatory, with the United Nations and various human rights organizations condemning the statements as inhumane and potentially indicative of a broader policy shift towards the use of starvation as a weapon of war. The comments have also raised questions about the role of far-right political figures in shaping the government’s narrative and the potential implications for the international legal and ethical frameworks governing armed conflict. As the situation in Gaza continues to evolve, the international community remains under pressure to respond to the humanitarian crisis while addressing the complex political dynamics at play.