Tensions in the Middle East have surged as Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich declared that Gaza will be “entirely destroyed” following an Israeli military victory, escalating fears of a full-scale offensive and permanent displacement of Palestinians from the enclave.
The statement came after Israel’s security cabinet approved a controversial new military campaign, dubbed Operation Gideon’s Chariots, which is aimed at seizing full control of the Gaza Strip. According to reports, the plan envisions not only the complete military defeat of Hamas but also the removal of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents, who would be relocated to third countries. Smotrich characterized the displacement as a necessary consequence of achieving long-term security, though critics argue it amounts to ethnic cleansing.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has echoed the need to move Gaza’s population, ostensibly for their safety amid the escalating war. However, regional neighbors, including Egypt and Jordan, have strongly opposed any resettlement efforts, warning that accepting refugees under such conditions would contribute to a humanitarian and political crisis in the region. The situation has grown more dire as Hamas rejected ceasefire proposals, accusing Israel of using starvation as a weapon of war. Gaza has been under near-total blockade since the start of the conflict, with food, water, and medical supplies running.
