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Sanctioned far-right leader Bezalel Smotrich described Gaza as a lucrative land opportunity, claiming that talks with the US over future settlements are underway.
The far-right politician, who has already been sanctioned by the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada and New Zealand for repeatedly inciting violence against Palestinians, made the remarks at the Urban Renewal Summit in Tel Aviv on Wednesday, while claiming that there is already "a business plan on President Trump's desk."
Known for his radical views, Smotrich has said he sees the destruction of Gaza as an opportunity for the “renaissance” of the region, calling it “a gold mine” for real estate developers. At a conference with real estate agents, he said: “The first phase, that of the destruction of Gaza, is already over. Now all we have to do is build.”
The ultranationalist leader of Israel's Religious Zionist Party also reiterated that negotiations with the US over settlements in Gaza are ongoing. Insisting that "the plan is working," he went further and claimed that since "we paid a lot of money for this war, we should share how we earn a percentage from the land trade later in Gaza."
A White House official, when asked about Smotrich's statement, told CNN: "President Trump has long promoted solutions that would help the people of Gaza rebuild. However, Hamas must first agree to disarm and relinquish its rule in Gaza."
President Trump in February suggested that the US could “take a long-term ownership position” of Gaza and turn it into a high-end luxury resort, with the potential to turn it into the “Riviera of the Middle East.” The idea has been widely rejected by both Arab and European nations and condemned by most of the international community and humanitarian organizations, as it would involve the forcible displacement of Palestinians from their land, a violation of international law.
This is not the first time that Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has spoken about a “lot of real estate” in Gaza. In July, he addressed a Knesset conference titled “Gaza Riviera – From Vision to Reality,” where participants presented proposals to restore Jewish settlements in the Gaza Strip. During his speech, he declared that Gaza would become an “indivisible part of the State of Israel.”
The settlements are illegal under international law.
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