Smotrich Calls for Imposing Israeli Sovereignty over Lands in Gaza and Lebanon and Urges Migration of Gaza Residents

Tel Aviv - Ofaq News - Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called today, Tuesday, for the imposition of what he described as "permanent Israeli sovereignty" over the areas currently controlled by Israel in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon, while also urging for what he termed "voluntary migration" for the residents of the Gaza Strip to Arab and Islamic countries.

Smotrich's statements came during his participation in the "NatCon" conference for national conservatism in Jerusalem, where he spoke about his vision for the future of the war in Gaza and the territories controlled by Israel, as well as his stance on the Palestinian issue and relations with the United States.

Smotrich stated that he demands Israel to permanently apply its sovereignty over the lands it currently controls in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon.

The Israeli minister justified his position by saying that countries or entities that start a war and lose it, according to his perception, should "pay a regional price," considering that the maintenance of borders as they are after previous rounds of fighting allowed, in his words, for the rebuilding of military capabilities and the outbreak of new confrontations.

Smotrich had previously called, in statements made in late September, for the annexation of parts of the Gaza Strip and southern Lebanon, and spoke about imposing Israeli control over areas reaching the "yellow line" in Gaza and up to the Litani River in Lebanon.

Regarding the residents of the Gaza Strip, Smotrich called for providing what he described as a "legal and respectful opportunity for voluntary immigration" for those who wish to leave Gaza.

He stated that the natural destination, according to his vision, is the Arab and Islamic countries with which the residents of Gaza share language, religion, and culture, emphasizing that his remarks, as he described, do not relate to coercion or compulsion.

He added that the final stage of the war, from his perspective, should include addressing the issue of Palestinian refugees and resettling the residents of the Gaza Strip in Arab and Islamic countries, considering that the Gaza Strip is "not sustainable" in its current form.

Smotrich also addressed the Palestinian issue during his speech, reiterating his rejection of the establishment of a Palestinian state, describing Palestinian nationalism as a "fantasy," according to Israeli media reports. He also called for the application of Israeli sovereignty over the West Bank.

These statements come at a time when the region is witnessing ongoing discussions about the future of the Gaza Strip and the territories controlled by Israel, amid Palestinian and Arab rejection of any steps aimed at displacing the residents of the Strip or changing the status of Palestinian lands.