by Andrea Tucci,
Bezalel Smotrich, Israel’s Finance Minister and leader of the National Religious Zionist Party, recently declared that starving two million people is justifiable, even moral. His words strike like a thunderclap in a storm of already heated rhetoric. This isn’t the first time Smotrich has unleashed such fierce words about the war in Gaza, but this time, he may have set a new bar. How can a minister of a self-proclaimed democratic state speak so openly about death and the justification of war crimes?
Referring back to the words of the Religious Zionism leader, Bezalel Smotrich, he claimed that it would be ethical “to block the flow of food aid to Gaza.” For Smotrich, this might be a dream coming to life, aligning with his long-held vision of realizing Greater Israel. Indeed, he’s made no secret of his ambitions, frequently speaking about it and even penning a book on the subject. His vision? A nation whose borders stretch to encompass the Gaza Strip, what’s left of the West Bank, and parts of Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria. (See the map on the cover photo of the article for reference.)
From Smotrich’s perspective, the death of millions of Palestinians might hasten the realization of his vision. Yet, even he acknowledges that this isn’t entirely feasible, and certainly not out of compassion. “No one will allow us to starve two million civilians, even if it could be right and justified,” he admitted. This, he explained, is why humanitarian convoys are being allowed into Gaza—because there is no other choice. However, the aid that manages to reach Gaza is scarce, distributed in dribs and drabs. With border crossings closed and systematic attacks on convoys by the Israeli population, what little does make it through is far from enough to sustain the Palestinian people.
Recently, the Finance Minister found an ally in the newly appointed government spokesperson, Omer Dostri. Tasked with managing Benjamin Netanyahu’s communications, Dostri’s background suggests a shift even further to the right. Like Smotrich, Dostri envisions a larger Jewish state and has never shied away from advocating for it during his numerous TV appearances. He has openly supported the occupation of the Gaza Strip with new settlements, aiming to replicate the West Bank model—creating outposts and villages even in a region now reduced to rubble.
Dostri’s strategic vision also includes another chilling move: driving the Palestinians out of Gaza altogether. In a recent interview on Channel 14, he detailed a plan to transfer Gaza’s inhabitants to the Sinai, offering Egypt economic and military incentives in return. In essence, a program of ethnic cleansing.
Omer Dostri, spokesman of Israel
Netanyahu himself has never explicitly called for Israeli settlements in Gaza, but his decision to appoint Omer Dostri as his spokesman speaks volumes.
In line with this troubling surge of hatred, the massacre in Gaza continues unabated. The Israeli army has bombed two more schools, claiming at least thirty lives, including 24 children. The Hassan Salama and al Nasr institutions, both managed by the United Nations, now join the grim list of schools razed within a week.
These schools, which serve as shelters for thousands of displaced people, are deliberately targeted without warning. There has been a concentrated assault on evacuation centers, and what’s truly shocking is the absence of any forewarning from the Israeli army to those inside.
Some numbers shed light on the dire situation: since October 7, 152 schools in the Gaza Strip have been destroyed. Tragically, at least 1,040 people who sought refuge in these schools met death instead of safety.
