The US State Department on Tuesday rejected comments by far-right Israeli officials —Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir — calling for the resettlement of Gazans outside of Gaza, denouncing them as “inflammatory and irresponsible.”
“We have been told repeatedly and consistently by the Government of Israel, including by the Prime Minister, that such statements do not reflect the policy of the Israeli government. They should stop immediately,” State Department spokesperson Matt Miller said in a statement.
Miller noted in the statement that the department has been “clear, consistent, and unequivocal that Gaza is Palestinian land and will remain Palestinian land, with Hamas no longer in control of its future and with no terror groups able to threaten Israel.”
“That is the future we seek, in the interests of Israelis and Palestinians, the surrounding region, and the world,” he said.
The State Department’s comments come after Israeli cabinet ministers in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition made remarks advocating for the resettlement of Palestinians outside of Gaza.
On Sunday, Smotrich, called for Palestinian residents to leave the Gaza strip, making way for Israelis who could “make the desert bloom,” according to Reuters.
Ben Gvir expressed support for resettling Palestinians from the Gaza Strip abroad, declaring that the war presents an “opportunity to concentrate on encouraging the migration of the residents of Gaza” during a political meeting.
CNN’s Jonny Hallam contributed to this report.
