Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, known for his extremist views, has sparked controversy by suggesting that Israel should occupy Gaza and reduce its population by half within two years.

Speaking at a conference organized by the Yesha Council, an organization representing illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank, Smotrich made remarks that have been widely criticized as genocidal and advocating for the forced displacement of Palestinians.

During his speech, Smotrich outlined a plan to use financial incentives to "encourage" Palestinians to leave Gaza. The Israeli minister suggested that the population could be halved through a combination of economic pressures and offers of money for relocation. "It is possible to create a situation where Gaza’s population will be reduced to half its current size in two years," he stated.

The remarks have been met with strong condemnation, as critics argue that such policies represent a form of ethnic cleansing and forced displacement, aiming to make conditions so unbearable for Palestinians that they would have no choice but to accept financial offers in exchange for leaving.

This is not the first time Smotrich has made such comments. Last year, during the ongoing Israeli war on Gaza, he reiterated his stance, advocating for the re-occupation of the Gaza Strip. "What needs to be done in the Gaza Strip is to encourage emigration," he said, adding that reducing Gaza's population from its current 2 million to a fraction of that number would dramatically change the political landscape.

His statements, including comments suggesting that many in Israeli society would view such a plan favorably, have raised alarms about the growing influence of far-right and extremist rhetoric in Israeli politics.

The call for population reduction and forced emigration has sparked widespread outrage among Palestinian and international human rights groups. Many have condemned Smotrich’s proposals as part of a broader agenda of occupation and dispossession of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank.

The comments have also drawn criticism from within Israel, with several public figures denouncing his dangerous rhetoric and the potential for it to incite further violence and discrimination. Smotrich, a staunch advocate for Israeli settlement expansion in the West Bank, continues to push for policies that many view as undermining any prospects for peace or coexistence in the region. (ILKHA)