Israeli far-right minister says Israel should occupy all of Gaza

Israel’s far-right finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, has spoken out in favour of Israeli occupation of the entire Gaza Strip, in remarks to Israeli military radio.

Smotrich, the leader of the Religious Zionist Party, is one of the critics within the government of the ceasefire agreement with Hamas.

“We have to occupy the entire strip and establish military rule there,” he said. There is no “third force” that could ensure security there, Smotrich argued.

In the same interview the minister said Israel’s army chief of staff, Herzi Halevi was not the right person to lead the military.

What is needed is someone who understands that occupying the entire Gaza Strip is his mission, “who stands behind it and is ready to enforce it,” Smotrich said.