Israeli Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu said Israel’s ultimate goal is to regain control of the Gaza Strip and establish Israeli settlements there. His remarks highlighted ongoing debate within Israel over the future of the Palestinian territory.
According to Israel’s public broadcaster KAN, Eliyahu said the government should ultimately reassert control over Gaza. He acknowledged that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had not yet placed the issue on the government’s formal agenda. However, he said the proposal remained under discussion.
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Eliyahu is a member of the Otzma Yehudit party, led by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. The party has repeatedly called for Israel to reoccupy Gaza, establish settlements and encourage Palestinians to leave the territory. Its position has remained consistent throughout the conflict.
Meanwhile, Eliyahu said public opinion in the Middle East understood such policies. He argued that discussions on Gaza’s future should continue despite the issue not being formally adopted by the government. Israeli officials have not announced any policy change.
Additionally, thousands of Israeli demonstrators gathered near the Gaza border on Sunday to support establishing Israeli settlements in the territory. Ben-Gvir and several government ministers participated in the demonstration. The rally reflected support for the proposal among some political groups.
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The future governance of Gaza remains a major issue in regional diplomacy and international discussions. Therefore, statements from Israeli officials continue to draw close attention. International efforts remain focused on achieving a lasting ceasefire and a political solution.
The Gaza Strip has remained at the centre of the Israel-Palestine conflict for decades. The international community generally considers Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territories illegal under international law, a position Israel disputes. Discussions over Gaza’s future are expected to continue.