Israel’s far-right leaders, including National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, are pushing for the resettlement of Gaza as the country’s elections draw near. The two ministers, who are part of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, recently led a demonstration of thousands of Israeli settlers and activists to the Gaza perimeter, demanding the reestablishment of three settlements in northern Gaza: Nisanit, Dugit, and Elei Sinai.

Background

The demonstration was organized by the hardline Nachala settler movement and included senior government ministers and lawmakers. The event was seen as an attempt to pressure Netanyahu to advance the far-right’s agenda, which includes expanding settlements in the occupied West Bank and rebuilding settlements in Gaza.

Ben Gvir and Smotrich have been championing the rebuilding of settlements in Gaza since October 7, 2023, and have framed the Gaza war as a chance to reverse the 2005 disengagement. Smotrich, who is also the minister in charge of settlement affairs within the defense ministry, has described Gaza as ‘an inseparable part of the land of Israel’ and argued that renewed settlement would serve as a security buffer.

International Criticism

Israel’s renewed settlement push, combined with the prolonged Gaza war and a rise in settler violence, has dramatically increased international criticism of Israel. Several countries, including the UK, France, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Norway, have recently imposed new sanctions on groups and individuals linked to the settler movement, along with travel bans on Ben Gvir and Smotrich in some European countries.

Original reporting: El Paso News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.