'Voluntary migration' from Gaza 'last step' to full Israeli control: Minister
Settler groups demand that Gaza be ethnically cleansed of Palestinians to make way for Jewish settlement and have regularly attacked humanitarian aid shipments trying to reach the strip to feed starving people
Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said on 21 May that Gaza should be under full Israeli control and ethnically cleansed to pave the way for Jewish settlement.
Speaking with ultra-Orthodox news outlet Kikar HaShabbat, the national security minister said the “encouragement of voluntary emigration” of Palestinians from Gaza is the “last” and “most important” step in Israel being able to fully occupy and build settlements in the Strip.
“If the emigration happens, and hundreds of thousands leave, you’ll be able to bring more and more and more people in,” the right-wing minister noted.
Ben-Gvir added that he “would love to live in Gaza if possible,” should these goals be met.
Haaretz reported on Monday that while Ben-Gvir was en route last week to a far-right rally calling for settlement building in Gaza, he was in shock over the police presence at the Tarqumiyah checkpoint, stationed to “protect” aid envoys to Gaza.
According to one witness at the checkpoint, Ben-Gvit got out of his personal car and said, “This can't be what my cops are doing instead of fighting terrorism. That's not why I do what I do, ensuring your salaries. I don't want you doing these missions.”
"Why are my cops here? Why are they doing this, that's not their job," the minister was heard saying over the phone while there.
After arriving at the right-wing rally, Ben-Gvir said that he “opposes” aid trucks being sent to provide Gaza with needed resources.
Earlier this month, The head of the UN World Food Program said northern Gaza had entered “full-blown famine," due to Israel's blockade.
Despite the police presence, right-wing settlers have previously succeeded in blocking off roads and violently attacked aid trucks headed to the besieged enclave, dumping some of the contents on the street and setting several trucks on fire.
Witnesses noted that when the Southern District Police Commander, Amir Cohen, reached the Tarqumiyah checkpoint to respond to Ben-Gvir’s criticism, he told the minister,” This is a policy decision, and this is the job of the Israel Police. We are exercising our responsibility.”
Ben-Gvir was angry the police chief stationed two special units, the Coastal District tactical unit, and the Yoav Unit, to protect the humanitarian aid convoys,
Two days after the checkpoint incident, Ben-Gvir lashed out at Police Commissioner Kobi Shabtai, saying, "How is it possible that there is an explicit cabinet decision not to remove Yoav from its mission, and have it reassigned?”
The minister added, "I am exhausting myself to obtain positions and expand the police."
A police source later told Haaretz that Shubtai said, "I am obeying instructions, and the cabinet decided to send the aid by trucks. My duty as commissioner is to fulfil the instructions and secure them.”