FM Smotrich says settlement of Gaza is ‘necessary' – population can be reduced by 'encouraging' half of residents to leave

While speaking at a meeting of the Yesha Council on Monday evening, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said that Israeli settlement in Gaza is necessary and suggested that the Palestinian population could be reduced by one-half by promoting “voluntary emigration.”

The council meeting, titled “The National Camp Prepares for the Trump Administration,” included several leading figures in the settler movement. They discussed strategies to expand settlements in Gaza under the upcoming U.S. administration of President-elect Donald Trump. 

“In Gaza, it is possible and necessary to conquer Gaza, we should not be afraid of that word,” Smotrich told the attendees of the conference. “It is possible and necessary to take civil responsibility there. This is an absolutely necessary condition.” 

Smotrich’s comments directly opposed recent statements by former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and opposition Knesset Member Benny Gantz, both of whom have explicitly rejected the idea of Israel assuming civil control over the Gaza Strip. 

Smotrich also dismissed concerns about the financial implications, asserting that the long-term security benefits would outweigh the costs.

“They try to scare with the costs, this is nonsense,” Smotrich argued, saying, “The IDF will have to be there ‘boots on the ground’ in order to fight terrorism, maintain security, and to prevent Gaza from being a threat to the State of Israel, not to control the civilian effort there.” 

Smotrich argued that in order to fully defeat Hamas, Israel will initially have to control the civil administration of Gaza. 

“Along the way, it [the IDF] will also control the civilian effort, this is the only way to destroy Hamas' civilian rule,” he argued. “Hamas is first and foremost a civilian movement, and on top of that, it built its military wing. There is no other way.” 

Regarding the issue of budget, he said Israel should be willing to pay.

“Even if it costs a little money, they tried to scare me in a meeting with the IDF,” Smotrich related, “They told me, ‘Look it could cost 5 billion shekels ($1.37 billion).’ Look, if the cost of security control is 5 billion shekels, I will buy it right now… If that is what it takes to ensure the security of Israel, then so be it,” the finance minister stated.

Regarding voluntary emigration, a controversial topic within the government, Smotrich said, “This is a possibility that opens up with the new [Trump] administration.” 

“The less we talk about it, the more we can do,” he said. 

“As in Judea and Samaria [internationally known as the West Bank], there is an inverse relationship between declarations and statements and practice. It is possible to create a situation in which Gaza in two years will be less than half of its current population,” he claimed.

“It's a different world – all the discussions the day after look different under Israel's total control. The hostages must also be returned. But this is a huge key to Judea and Samaria – there will be voluntary emigration from Gaza, it is clear to everyone that there is a model.” 

Critics of Smotrich’s voluntary emigration policy, which he and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir support, believe the phrase is simply a euphemism for “forced displacement,” which is a war crime. 

The Israeli government under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has officially stated that resettling Gaza is not one of the goals of the war with the Hamas terrorist organization. Even within Netanyahu's Likud party, there are disagreements regarding support for the settler movement.

Smotrich claimed the method could be replicated in Judea and Samaria, but warned that the next two months, until Trump takes office, are critical. He said Israel must be careful not to do anything to threaten the opportunities it will have under the Trump administration. 

“You should also know that the two months between now and January 20 are very challenging and very dangerous,” Smotrich warned. “They need to be navigated very carefully and very responsibly.”