Israel Allies Criticize Minister’s Remarks That Gaza Starvation May be Justified

Facts

• Israel’s Western allies have condemned Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich's remarks that starvation in Gaza “might be just and moral” until Israeli hostages are freed.^[1]
• On Monday, Smotrich also said 'no one will allow us to starve 2M people.' The UK, Germany, and Egypt condemned the remarks, with the EU calling it “beyond ignominious.”^[1]
• The Palestinian Foreign Ministry now wants Smotrich included in the International Criminal Court (ICC) proceedings, under which arrest warrants have been sought for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Galant. However, top foreign military officials have pushed for the ICC to reject the pre-existing warrants, calling the allegations baseless.^[2][3]
• Smotrich on Thursday said his earlier comments, condemned by the US, were taken out of context. He added that Israel had 'pampered' Gaza with aid, positing that he believed aid should be conditional on the return of hostages taken on Oct. 7.^[4]
• Meanwhile, Israel on Thursday issued fresh evacuation orders for several Gaza neighborhoods of eastern Khan Younis. Palestinian media said Israeli forces had launched another ground operation.^[5]
• On Monday, Israel returned the bodies of over 80 Palestinians to Gaza, though it was unclear from where they had originated. Israel earlier said it had returned bodies after checking they were not Israeli hostages.^[6]

Sources: ^[1]Associated Press, ^[2]Al Jazeera, ^[3]Jerusalem Post, ^[4]Timesofisrael (a), ^[5]Timesofisrael (b) and ^[6]Reuters.

Narratives

• Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by CNN. The US and its allies have continued to call for increased humanitarian aid to Gaza and for Israel to investigate possible abuses committed by its forces. Smotrich represents the fringe of Israeli society and his remarks do not speak for all Israelis.
• Pro-Palestine narrative, as provided by Middle East Eye. Smotrich's genocidal rhetoric only demonstrates how mainstream such sentiments have become in Israeli society. Its a bare minimum that Western nations condemn these comments, as they have done so little to prevent the practices which Smotrich has advocated.

Predictions