Israeli MK Says There Are Secret Plans To Establish Israeli Settlements in Gaza

Israeli MKs and ministers have been open about their desire to establish new settlements in Gaza

Limor Son Har-Melech, a member of the Israeli Knesset and the hardline Jewish Power party, has said there are secret Israeli plans to establish settlements in the Gaza Strip, The New Arab reported on Wednesday.

Har-Melech told the Israeli Knesset’s TV channel that there was “a vision for the day after (the war on Gaza), and the only optimistic vision is the renewal of the settlement of Gaza. Of course this will happen in stages, I think this will happen whether we like it or not.”

She said that she was “speaking about secret matters because we can see the large opposition (from external parties).” She added that starting in the next session of the Israeli Knesset, “you will see practical steps, including plans, and work in government offices and security services. There is intensive work behind the scenes on this.”

Other members of the Israeli Knesset and ministers in the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have not been shy about their desire to re-establish settlements in Gaza. In January, 12 ministers and 15 MKs attended a conference on the settlement of Gaza.

Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel’s minister of national security and the leader of the Jewish Power party, spoke at the conference and called for Netanyahu to take steps to allow for settlements. “If we don’t want another October 7, we need to go back home and control [Gaza]. We need to find a legal way to voluntarily emigrate [Palestinians] and impose death sentences on terrorists,” he said. “I turn to you, PM Netanyahu: this is time for brave decisions.”

Har-Melech spoke at a similar conference back in November 2023 and called for Israel to conquer the entire Gaza Strip. “There is no escape from returning and fully controlling the Gaza Strip, full control that will include extensive and flourishing settlement in the entire strip,” she said.

In October 2023, a document prepared by Israel’s Intelligence Ministry that was leaked to the media said the best post-war scenario for Israel would be the expulsion of all 2.3 million Palestinians living in Gaza.

Author: Dave DeCamp

Dave DeCamp is the news editor of Antiwar.com, follow him on Twitter @decampdave.