Al Jazeera’s July 4 analysis examines how close Israel is to doing so.
Last Monday, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich—who conditioned his continued participation in the ruling coalition on gaining greater authority over settlement policy—said Israel is prepared to establish three Jewish settlements in northern Gaza once it receives government approval. “We are ready to establish a bloc of three settlements in northern Gaza immediately, the moment we receive the green light from the Prime Minister,” he said, according to Haaretz. He added that the IDF controls nearly 70 percent of the Gaza Strip and must complete its takeover, defeat Hamas, and create a belt of settlements to serve as a security buffer for Sderot and nearby Israeli communities.
The next day, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appeared close to giving that green light. In an interview on the staunchly right-wing Channel 14, he declined to rule out settlements in Gaza, responding only, “The question is whether you prefer to do or to talk… And yes, I prefer not to address it.”
According to Al Jazeera, both Smotrich and Netanyahu clearly have the intention toward settlements, but potential international repercussions to building them on the blood and bones of tens of thousands of Palestinians remain a significant constraint. UN backed experts have accused Israel of imposing famine on Gaza’s survivors and, more recently, of furthering genocide through deliberate targeting of children—though even these allegations may not deter settlement plans.
Ultimately, political considerations may prevail. “With elections due in Israel, it is beneficial for politicians such as Smotrich and Netanyahu to insinuate that this is now the plan,” Al Jazeera concludes.