Israeli Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir once again called for encouraging the residents of the Gaza Strip to “voluntarily immigrate” and giving them financial incentives to do so. He attacked the administration of US President Joe Biden, accusing it of obstructing the Israeli war effort, which sparked a storm of criticism from Israel.

Ben Gvir said in an interview with the Wall Street Journal that Biden, “instead of providing full support to us, is providing humanitarian aid and fuel to Gaza, and that goes to Hamas,” and he considered that American behavior would be completely different if former President Donald Trump were in the presidency.

The American newspaper quoted the far-right minister as saying that he has a plan aimed at “encouraging the residents of Gaza to voluntarily migrate to other countries around the world” by providing financial incentives to do so, and Ben Gvir said that this is the real humanitarian effort that must be undertaken.

Ben Gvir proposed holding a global conference to help Israel find countries ready to receive Palestinian refugees.

He also said that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is at a crossroads now, and that he must choose the path he will take.

Sharp criticism

Ben Gvir's statements sparked dissatisfaction and sharp criticism, as Israeli War Council member Benny Gantz described them as irresponsible, and said that Netanyahu should order Ben Gvir to stop harming Israel's foreign relations.

Opposition leader Yair Lapid also considered it evidence that Netanyahu does not control the extremists in his government.

Lapid said, "Ben Gvir has proven that he does not understand anything in foreign policy, and Netanyahu has no control over the extremists in his government," and stressed that "Ben Gvir's statements are a direct attack on Israel's international standing and harm its security."

In turn, Knesset member Naor Shiri from the “There is a Future” party led by Lapid said, “Ben Gvir was not satisfied with the enormous damage he caused to internal security, and now he is causing international political damage to Israel,” according to what the Israeli newspaper Maariv reported.