Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir called for the dismissal of Defense Minister Yoav Galant and War Minister Benny Gantz, while Finance Minister Be’tzalel Smotrich threatened to reoccupy southern Lebanon.
This comes amid escalating tensions within the Israeli occupation government, with War Council member Gantz warning Netanyahu about the “day after” the war on Gaza.
Ben Gvir stated in his remarks that he hopes Netanyahu “will gather the courage and send Gantz, Eisenkot, and Galant back to their homes,” adding that the War Council is leading Israel to losses and confusion in the north and south.
He accused War Council members of “throwing sticks in the wheels,” adding that “if one of its senior members (i.e., Gantz) visits the United States for meetings, and afterwards we feel a cold breeze from the Americans, we realize that he did not support the Israeli government’s policy.”
He also called for the expulsion of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip, describing it as “encouraging Palestinian emigration,” and establishing settlements there, considering that “there is no other alternative. If there is no Jewish settlement inside Gaza, the rockets will continue to fall on Sderot, Netivot, and Ashkelon. There is no vacuum in these matters. This is very clear,” according to statements he made on the “Yedioth Ahronoth” website.
Regarding relations with Egypt, Ben Gvir said: “It is necessary to continuously examine relations with the Egyptians and stop living in illusions,” adding: “The Egyptians did not prevent weapons smuggling, and perhaps there is more to it, and it is very likely that they do not care much about the security of Israeli citizens, and we are fooling ourselves.”
Ben Gvir also considered that “there is no possibility other than that Hamas does not rule Gaza, and neither does Fatah. The only way is to occupy Gaza and encourage emigration.”
Smotrich threatens to reoccupy southern Lebanon.
Meanwhile, Smotrich threatened to reoccupy southern Lebanon if Hezbollah did not stop launching rockets at Israel.
During a speech at a party meeting held in the Galilee region in northern occupied Palestine, Smotrich said: “We must issue a public ultimatum to Hezbollah to completely stop firing and withdraw beyond the (Litani) river.”
He added: “If Hezbollah does not respond fully to our demands, the Israeli army must launch an attack to defend the northern towns deep into Lebanese territory, including entering by land and gaining military control over the southern Lebanon area.”
As for the Gaza Strip, Smotrich clarified that the army must remain inside Gaza and maintain its “complete control” there, calling for the establishment of new control points in the north, center, and south of the sector.
He also called for the completion of the invasion of Rafah and its complete occupation, and for a permanent presence at the Rafah crossing and along the Philadelphi corridor to prevent the continued smuggling of weapons from Egypt and to “cut off the oxygen to Hamas.”
On Saturday, Gantz threatened at a press conference to leave the government if a clear and comprehensive plan is not developed by June 8, 2024, “to win the war, including undermining Hamas rule.”
According to Gantz, the plan includes undermining Hamas rule, returning prisoners detained in Gaza, establishing a US-Arab-Palestinian administration for the Gaza Strip, with Israeli security control.
The plan also includes, according to Gantz’s vision, ensuring the return of residents of northern Israel on the Lebanese border to their homes by next September, enhancing normalization with Arab countries, and adopting the Arab Service Plan.
