Provocative Statements from Smotrich
According to The Times of Israel, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, known for his provocative style, argued at a conference organized by the media organization “Israel Hayom” that Israel should have blocked humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip since October 7. Smotrich described the deaths of all Gazans, who are facing hunger and famine as a result of Israel’s intense bombardment, as a “legitimate” situation.
Smotrich said, “We cannot manage a war in the current global reality. No one will allow 2 million civilians to starve to death until our hostages are returned, even if it is justified and morale.” These statements caused a huge reaction in the international community. The minister stated that the international community will not allow humanitarian aid to be delivered to the region, and emphasized that Israel needs international legitimacy to continue its military operations in Gaza.
The Situation of Gazans
The far-right minister, who argues that Israel should take complete control of the Gaza Strip, stated that decisive steps should be taken to achieve this goal. In the attacks carried out since October 7, a total of 39,583 Palestinians have lost their lives, including at least 16,314 children and 10,980 women, and 91,398 people have been injured.
There are still thousands of dead reported under the rubble, and civilian infrastructure has been severely damaged, with hospitals and educational institutions targeting civilians as a refugee, deepening the humanitarian crisis in the region.
