The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates has released a statement demanding punitive action against Israel’s far-right Finance Minister, Bezalel Smotrich.

This was in reaction to comments made by Smotrich, in which he said “no one in the world will allow us to starve two million people, even though it might be justified and moral in order to free the hostages.”

In his speech made earlier this week, Smotrich stated that Israel was “bringing in humanitarian aid because we have no choice,” adding, “We are in a situation that requires international legitimacy to conduct this war.”

According to the ministry’s statement, “Smotrich’s statements are an explicit admission of adopting and bragging about the policy of genocide.”

It added that the comments are a “direct expression of the ugliest forms of fascism.”

The ministry said that Smotrich issued a direct challenge to international law and the International Criminal Court in his statements, and that the court should respond with an arrest warrant.

Also, Iranian Foreign Ministry stressed that the “heinous and horrific” statements of Israeli Finance Minister, Bezalel Smotrich about the killing of two million Palestinians by starvation “deserve international prosecution”.

“The statements of this member of the Zionist criminal gang are only a kind of public declaration and confession,” the ministry spokesman, Nasser Kanaani said on X.

Kanaani also called on the European Union to “fulfill its international, moral and humanitarian responsibilities” against Israel and end political support instead of limiting itself by verbal condemnation of Smotrich’s statements.

Yesterday, Josep Borrell, the EU’s high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, issued a stern warning that deliberately starving civilians was a war crime and Israel’s government must “distance itself” from comments by Smotrich.

In a post on social media and in a statement, Borrell described as “beyond ignominious” a recent public statement by Israeli Finance Minister Smotrich in which he said causing “2 million civilians to die of hunger” could be “justified and moral” until Israeli captives held in Gaza are released.

“It demonstrates, once again, his contempt for international law and for basic principles of humanity,” Borrell said of the ultra-nationalist Smotrich.

“We expect the Israeli government to unequivocally distance itself from the words of Minister Smotrich, as well as to establish transparency on the reported acts of torture in the Sde Teiman prison.”
Josep Borrel

Germany and France also condemned the minister’s comments separately, and the UN and US have called for Israel to fully investigate allegations of abuse and torture of Palestinian detainees by Israeli soldiers at its prisons, including sexual abuse.

US ‘Appalled’ By Smotrich’s Remarks

According to a news agency, Israeli Finance Minister, Bezalel Smotrich’s comments that starving the entire population of Gaza could be justified in order to secure the release of the Israeli captives has “appalled” the US administration.

“We are appalled by these comments and reiterate that this rhetoric is harmful and disturbing,” a State Department spokesperson said in a statement to the news agency.

The statement added that US President Joe Biden and US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken have repeatedly stressed “the need to end the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, remove any obstacles to the flow of aid and restore basic services for those in need.”

Meanwhile, Moshe Ya’alon, the former chief of staff of the Israeli military, has issued a stinging rebuke of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying that he is ready to “sacrifice” the Israeli captives to appease far-right members of his cabinet that oppose a ceasefire.

Ya’alon singled out Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich in his comments, accusing them of pushing to displace Palestinians during the war.