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Ben-Gvir: Time is right to incentivize Palestinian migration from Gaza

 
 National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir arrives for a court hearing at the Supreme Court in Jerusalem, on September 11, 2024 (photo credit: YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH90)
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir arrives for a court hearing at the Supreme Court in Jerusalem, on September 11, 2024
(photo credit: YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH90)

When asked about the PM's take on incentivizing emigration, Ben-Gvir said that where he once met resistance, he now sees more willingness.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been more receptive to the idea of incentivizing the emigration of Gazans from the Gaza Strip, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir suggested in an interview on Army Radio Sunday.

“I want encouragement of emigration [of Gazans out of the Gaza Strip]. I think we need to allow them to emigrate at will,” he told Army Radio, adding that he was working to coordinate with Netanyahu on this.

When asked whether Netanyahu supports the idea of incentivizing emigration from Gaza, Ben-Gvir said some of his ideas that in the past had prompted resistance are now being met with openness.

Jewish settlement in the Gaza Strip would be “a welcome idea [and] the biggest punishment for what they did to us on October 7,” he said.

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“Remember that the only times we beat our enemies were when we took territory from them, and conquering the Gaza Strip is certainly an idea, but I must admit that I am not satisfied by it,” he added.

  The man least suited for the job. Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir (credit: Yonatan Zindel/Flash90)
The man least suited for the job. Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir (credit: Yonatan Zindel/Flash90)

Proposed methods to free hostages

Settlement is not enough without incentivizing emigration, and the time is now ripe, Ben-Gvir said.

The Palestinian Authority on Sunday condemned “Israeli racist calls to displace citizens from the Gaza Strip.”

In a post on X/Twitter, its Foreign Ministry wrote: “The ministry calls on the international community to respect its legal responsibilities towards protecting Palestinian prisoners.”


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Ben-Gvir told Army Radio said he opposed the hostage deal being discussed because not all the hostages would be released, and a deal that would release all the hostages would require concessions he is not willing to support.

“I believe that a reckless deal that releases 1,000 Sinwars and stops the war does significant damage to the State of Israel,” and that is what a deal that would release all the hostages would do, Ben-Gvir said.

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He said he has suggested several ideas to free the hostages, including totally stopping fuel from entering Gaza. Israel will be able to do this once President-elect Donald Trump enters office, he added.

Withholding humanitarian aid would create pressure for the release of the hostages, Ben-Gvir said.

“It’s very, very simple: You want humanitarian [aid]; give us our hostages, and you’ll get humanitarian [aid].”

When the Army Radio interviewer said the addition of the New Hope-United Right Party to the coalition meant Ben-Gvir could no longer bring it down, Ben-Gvir said he knows Netanyahu does not want Otzma Yehudit to leave the government.

Asked whether that meant he still thinks he has veto power, Ben-Gvir said Netanyahu understands politics.

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