Israel’s Finance Minister, Bezalel Smotrich, is the star attraction of this circus with his inflammatory declaration. He pronounced Gaza would be “totally crushed,” as one prerequisite of a militarily foreseen victory. His comments were intended in response to the escalation of war triggered by Hamas’ attack on October 7, 2023. They have drawn sharp international condemnation and raised fears of ethnic cleansing within the occupied territory. Smotrich suggested that the Palestinian population of Gaza would “leave in great numbers to third countries,” a statement that has intensified concerns regarding human rights violations amid the escalating violence.
As the military escalation continues, displacement and destruction in Gaza are worse than ever. Thousands have been forced to relocate several times due to the ongoing Israeli onslaught. The death toll has now risen well over 52,000 since Israel denied Humanitarian Pauses earlier this month, raining hellfire on civilians in Gaza to retaliate against Hamas. These developments coincide with an Israeli government plan known as Operation Gideon’s Chariots, which aims for the “conquest of the Gaza Strip and the holding of the territories.” This operation reportedly includes measures to “move most of the population of the Gaza Strip … to protect them,” according to Effie Defrin, Israel’s chief military spokesperson.
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza is acute. Resources such as food and fuel are running critically low due to a total Israeli siege since the start of March 2. Senior humanitarian agencies have been warning for months that this blockade would have catastrophic humanitarian consequences for civilians caught in the active war zone. The international court of justice is in the process of looking into active allegations of genocide against the state of Israel for its military assault in Gaza. The court had already issued provisional measures calling on Israel to protect against genocide. It further demands unrestricted humanitarian access throughout the southern border of Egypt.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu echoed Smotrich’s sentiments, stating that the “population will be moved, for its own protection” in a video shared on social media. This new rhetoric has human rights advocates understandably alarmed. It has further incited fierce opposition from its neighboring countries. Egypt and Jordan have already stated they will not take in large numbers of refugees. They say such a decision is necessary to prevent the United States from being perceived as complicit in what many consider to be an ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people.
Hamas has responded with fury, recently announcing its desire to cease negotiating for ceasefires with Israel. The coalition has been calling on the international community to act against what it calls Israel’s “hunger war” on the Gaza Strip.
The ramifications of Smotrich’s words have caused legal experts to respond with alarm. Victor Kattan, an assistant professor in public international law at the University of Nottingham, emphasized that “deportation and forcible transfer of civilians is a crime against humanity under the Rome statute.” He said Smotrich’s words are especially loaded considering the Israeli government’s recent increased demand for additional troops.
To make matters worse, as the humanitarian crisis grows more dire, several intergovernmental international organizations—including the UN, OIC, AI, and others—have denounced the actions taken on Gaza. This followed a joint UN and other aid agencies’ statement condemning Israel’s military-controlled humanitarian assistance mechanism as a retrograde and unacceptable move. They referred to it as “dangerous,” arguing that it further entrenches control over life-sustaining resources and places civilian lives in jeopardy.
“It contravenes fundamental humanitarian principles and appears designed to reinforce control over life-sustaining items as a pressure tactic – as part of a military strategy,” – Joint statement by UN and other aid agencies
Experts are sounding the alarm that without urgent intervention, we risk creating a generations-long humanitarian catastrophe. This continuing inaction will likely result in even greater destabilization across the entire region. Stephen Cutts remarked that Israel’s efforts to control aid could be seen as an attempt to “weaponise humanitarian aid” while continuing its policies toward Palestinians.
The Israeli government is under pressure to defer any further military endeavors for now. They would like to hold it after former U.S. President Donald Trump completes his own trip to Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar later next week. This decision highlights the tumultuous geopolitical currents swirling around the 18-month-old conflict.