Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has stirred controversy by suggesting that allowing over two million Gazans to suffer from hunger could be the "right and moral" approach until Israeli hostages held by Hamas are released. Speaking at the Katif Annual Conference on Monday, Smotrich expressed frustration over the international community's opposition to this stance.
According to Haaretz, Smotrich, a member of the far-right Religious Zionist Party, argued that while the global community is preventing Israel from implementing such measures, he believes that starving Gazans might be justified. He remarked, "Nobody will let us cause 2 million civilians to die of hunger, even though it might be justified and moral, until our hostages are returned."
In his speech at a conference hosted by Israel Hayom, Smotrich criticized the decision to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza, claiming it would only return a few hostages while endangering Israel.
The United Nations reports that since October 7, 34 Palestinians have died from malnutrition, predominantly children. Despite this, Smotrich and other officials argue against ceasefire agreements, suggesting that such deals would only partially resolve the hostage situation and potentially compromise Israeli security.
This rhetoric comes amid escalating concerns over the humanitarian situation in Gaza. UN experts have noted a dramatic rise in malnutrition cases among children, with a more than 300 percent increase in northern Gaza from May to July. The ongoing conflict, which has resulted in nearly 40,000 deaths and left over 10,000 missing, has exacerbated the crisis.
Smotrich’s comments add to a series of controversial statements from Israeli officials, including Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, who has described the conflict as a fight against "human animals" and announced a complete siege on Gaza. These remarks are being scrutinized as part of a genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, with some viewing them as evidence of genocidal intent.
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