Far-right Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has said during a speech at a Haredi institute that electricity and water in Gaza need to be completely cut off, and humanitarian aid cancelled, Al Jazeera reports.
“We must threaten that if anything happens to any hostage, Israeli would occupy 5 percent of the Gaza Strip. Another one, another 5 percent,” he said, claiming that “we have full backing” from Donald Trump in light of his latest statements on returning to fighting in Gaza.
Smotrich, who is leading Israeli assaults on the occupied West Bank, said the Israeli military is prepared to occupy parts of Gaza, especially in the north, within “hours” if there is a command from the political echelon.
“Gaza will return to being part of the state of Israel because it is our country and this is the only way to ensure safety of the citizens of the state of Israel and its security,” he said.
The minister said there is no law that could force the ultra-Orthodox Jews into military service.