On Monday, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said freeing Israeli captives in Gaza was not the “most important goal” and called for Israel to eliminate the “Gaza problem.”
Smotrich, leader of the far-right Religious Zionist party, suggested Israel had the opportunity to “eliminate” Gaza now that President Biden was out of office, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant had been fired, and members of opposition parties were out of the Israeli government.
“We need to eliminate the Gaza problem,” Smotrich said in a radio interview. “We have a tremendous opportunity, and the excuses are gone: there’s no Biden, no Gallant, Gantz or Eisenkot – we must storm Gaza and end the problem, and prove to the whole world and the people of Israel that there is a military solution to terror.”
Smotrich also criticized former IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi for letting some humanitarian aid into Gaza. Smotrich recently said that “not even a grain of wheat” will enter Gaza, which has been under a total Israeli blockade since March 2.
Smotrich’s comments on Monday angered family members of Israeli hostages in Gaza. “The families have only one word this morning: shame. At least the minister is revealing the harsh truth to the public – this government has consciously decided to abandon the hostages,” the Hostages and Missing Families Forum said, according to Haaretz.
“Minister Smotrich, history will remember how you hardened your heart to your brothers and sisters in captivity and chose not to save them – some from death, others from disappearance,” the group added.
Hamas has repeatedly offered to free all remaining Israeli captives in exchange for a permanent ceasefire and Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, but the Israeli government has refused those terms. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has made clear that his ultimate goal is a total Israeli military occupation of Gaza and the ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian population.
Haaretz | Israel News
Israel Police Tell Anti-war Protesters: 'No Photos of Gazan Children'
Israel Police barred protest organizers from holding photos of Gazan children or using the word 'genocide,' despite prior assurances to the High Court that it would allow 'controversial' signs
Protesters hold photos of children killed in Gaza, during a protest in Tel Aviv on Saturday.Credit: Tomer Appelbaum
Josh Breiner
Apr 20, 2025 11:05 pm IDT
….Israel Police conditioned approval for an anti-war protest this coming Thursday in Tel Aviv on the requirement that "no images of children or babies from Gaza" be displayed.
According to a document sent on Sunday by the police to the Arab-Jewish movement Standing Together, which is organizing the protest, demonstrators are prohibited from displaying signs, posters, or flags that "incite to violent or illegal activity."
The document, obtained by Haaretz, also states that participants are forbidden from displaying "hostage signs" (apparently referring to posters with images of hostages) or signs bearing the phrase "genocide."
Israeli protesters hold up pictures of children killed in Gaza, in a protest in Tel aviv, on Saturday.Credit: Tomer Appelbaum
This is the first time in recent months that police have issued such a document to protest organizers. In the past, the police have repeatedly assured the High Court of Justice that they would allow the display of what they termed "provocative" signs, particularly those calling to end the war in Gaza or claiming that Israel is committing genocide there.
In May, responding to a petition from the Association for Civil Rights in Israel, the police stated that displaying such signs is legal and that "the officer in charge on the ground is not instructed to limit the content of the protest or the content of signs being held."
Nevertheless, despite many internal directives to regional commanders, the police continue to act contrary to their official guidelines and the opinion of their legal adviser. Officers are preventing the display of signs that the police deem inflammatory and sometimes confiscate such signs. Last week, officers even assaulted protesters holding similar signs at demonstrations in Haifa and Jerusalem.
Standing Together movement responded, saying, "The police's actions show that it is political," adding that the police "are censoring messages in protests against the war and the government."
According to the movement, "Since Netanyahu chose to collapse the cease-fire deal in order to allow [National Security Minister] Ben-Gvir to return to the coalition, the release of the hostages from Hamas captivity has been halted, and many Palestinian children have died."
https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2025-04-20/ty-article/.premium/israel-police-tell-anti-war-protesters-no-photos-of-gazan-children/00000196-546a-d1c7-a3b7-5fea4d1b0000
Yesterday I met a Palestinian from Gaza, whose family is still there, he was very glad to see me wearing a Palestinian flag pin but when we talked a bit more he was clearly very sad and I found myself strugglin to find the words to even describe rightfully the horrors of the genocide. 🙁
I don't know that you need words, warm eyes, intent ears, maybe questions if he needs to talk, hands and arms if appropriate 🙂 In his place, think how much that flag pin meant to him. I say this because I've wanted to get a keffiyeh but outside a protest (sadly my protest days are over) concerned it would harm. Thank you for the pin idea, even Walmart carries one!
Sure. I was just describing the situation: everything I could say sounded “weak”. In the end the “no words” phrase was what made more sense.
Then my response you're a caring person Maju, neither words or no words would dampen your expression of compassion. Let me add, you uplifted my day too:)
You both uplifted my day.
Of course, it is an emotional issue for the families, but Israel's primary concern is that Hamas can no long repeat another October 7. Antiwar's primary concern is to protect Hamas.
As of early 2025, an estimated 122.6 million people worldwide have been forcibly displaced from their homes, including refugees and internally displaced persons, according to the Source: United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
Why is Antiwar's primary concern with Gaza when Syria, Sudan, Venezuela, Afghanistan, Yemen, the Ukraine, and a dozen other Countries have massive forced displacement? Hamas initiated this action and could stop it at any time
There are nine African countries with more than 1 million displaced account for more than 90 percent of the total forcibly displaced population in Africa: Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Somalia, Nigeria, Ethiopia, South Sudan.
Hi pipsqueak, so long since we heard from ya. You've got a couple of fallacies there – Ad Hominem and Red Herring, beyond those …
There is only one way Israel can eliminate it's "Gaza Problem." Deoccupy all Palestinian lands as the ICJ ruled in July 2024 and the UNGA set a 09.2025 deadline for Israel to complete, not that anyone expects it to do so – by then.
So if Israel doesn't collapse or devolve into a civil war what's it gonna do, kill or "transfer" every single Palestinian in the occupied territories? What about the 7M Palestinians in the diaspora, is Israel going to send Mossad Death Squads to eliminate them? Under International Law they have the "right to return." After 100+ years fighting ethnic cleansing & genocide you think Palestinians are going to suddenly say "Ok you win, you can have our lands," or might some start thinking dirty bombs? Nah….
It's not going to get to that, the majority world is against you, the rule of law in the west has existed since the Magna Carta with it's corollary in Islamic law, eventually this will be resolved under international law and in the Hague.
Bye Bye, pipsqueak, until your next visit of fallacies, fabrications, half-truths, and downright lies.
The thing is we think that 'peepsqueek' has it all wrong which is true. But he is not alone, there are millions who think exactly the same. They just don't appear here. They are on other sites, News outlets or You/tube.
The frightening thing is that many truly believe that all that killing is totally justified – they have been brainwashed for that long. Especially the Evangelicals like Huckabee think they are doing god's work to get rid of the enemy – the unbelievers – as god did in the Old Testament killing men, women, children and oxen to make room for his chosen people the Hebrews.
……
"Antiwar's primary concern is to protect Hamas."
Omigosh! Lil' piss stain on a rampage! With Israeli impunity collapsing, the Zionist fascists are inciting total Genocide Now –
"We must storm Gaza and end the problem"!
– and – excited to play his part in the butchery – little pisser here has gone from smearing individual posters as pro-Hamas to defamation of the Antiwar website.
"Why is Antiwar's primary concern with Gaza when…other Countries have…forced displacement?"
Why? 'Cause Antiwar is an American magazine. And America is bankrolling – in fact, singlehandedly enabling in every way – Israel's ethnic cleansing and genocide of Gaza.
That's why, lil' piss stain.
Antiwar.com’s primary concern is US foreign policy. Gaza is one of the top two focuses lately (the other being Ukraine), because that’s what’s going on.
I do find it odd that the guy who was nowhere to be seen until Gaza, and then shows up to talk about nothing but Gaza, has a problem with a focus on Gaza.
But… a lot of foreign policies also affect domestic policies that antiwardotcom should cover…!
Incidentally, there is The War At Home column but most if not all of its articles are referencing other news media sources…!
I don’t speak for Antiwar.com vis a vis its editorial line, but my impression is that it tends to stay away from domestic policy matters that fall “left” vs. “right” in a way that would tend to divide the anti-war movement.
Good hypothesis… but would that also apply to foreign policies…?!
Antiwar.com has a foreign policy line, and wants to appeal to anyone and everyone who agrees with that foreign policy line, regardless of what they think about food stamps, abortion, sexual orientation, the excesses or uprightness of local law enforcement, etc.
So it tends to stay away from any domestic matters not very directly linked to foreign policy.
That doesn't mean that every anti-war person will agree with Antiwar.com's foreign policy line, but the foreign policy line is the reason for the site's existence.
"I do find it odd that the guy who was nowhere to be seen until Gaza, and then shows up to talk about nothing but Gaza, has a problem with a focus on Gaza."
Well, you see, in th' lil' pisser's brain:
'Antiwar is causing the problem.' See, we 'attacked Israel.' And the' lil' butcher in a blue n' white beanie?…
…Well, he 'has no choice' but to 'defend' Israel – just like he has 'no choice' but to cut off power in Gaza hospital maternity wards.
…'No choice' but to report Antiwar to radical right dox groups like Canary Mission, US Betar, or Project Esther.
…So, you see, it's 'our choice' – all Antiwar has to do is 'lay down its editorial weapons and shut the fuck up' – plus maybe collar its 'worst offenders' – so Israel can continue its butchery in peace…
…and he'll stop slandering Antiwar as pro-Hamas…and Antiwar can go about its business in obedient peace.
I hope you'll be around within 20 years from now to see the sequel to October 7th. It's over for Israel no matter what.
"there’s no Biden" Interesting. So Biden was holding back Israel plan to eliminate Gaza. A plan that trump fully supports. One has to wonder if the "Arabs for trump" group is questioning their support.
Doubtful, any group so deluded to start with are not likely to be capable of change. Just look at the Log Cabin Republicans for an example.
When Biden left office 70% of Gaza had been leveled and 90% of its population had been displaced. He had even put a phony demand on Israel right before the election to allow more aid into Gaza and when Harris lost the election, Biden did nothing to enforce that demand. But for some reason you think that was all going to change under the cackling witch Harris who said on a 60 minutes interview that she wouldn't have done anything different than Biden. The only thing that changed, or was going to change, was the pace at which Israel was allowed to destroy Gaza.
And when did Harris or Biden plan to kick the Palestinians out of Gaza?
The question is when did Harris or Biden plan to stop Israel's slaughter of the Palestinians in Gaza. From Oct 7th, 2023, to Jan 20th, 2025, they did nothing but enable Israel's slaughter even though they set several red lines that Israel flat assed ignored. Now tell me why I should have expected anything different if Harris had been elected.
doesnt matter who is the tenant of the oval office. no matter which party wins the election, will be a zionist stooge
And when they aren't they get eliminated like JFK.
How Germanesque?…!…. …..
Gaza could easily be eliminated as part of the one-state solution: one nation with equal rights for all residents of historical Palestine.
All it would take would be some good will on the Zionists side.
The de facto eternal not with us attitude of the Israelis does not allow it.
Smotrich's language here betrays the nature of the braying beast. Gaza is not “a problem” except as it reveals his own monstrosity and bestiality. It is the disaster of helpless innocents being massacred by vicious thugs like himself; and his “there is a military solution to terror” is an incomplete statement, which should read “and there is a military solution by applying terror, unequal, unfair, and cruel terror, which we are using!” I am sorry to use such harsh language on those who have allowed themselves all these delusions and sinking to the dregs of what the creature called “human” is capable of.
Israel IS the problem, Israel has to go, until that happens there is no peace in the whole region.
Montana is a big enough state to relocate the Israeli Zionists.
That should be easy, they could lead wonderful peaceful lives, time to start is now, and Trump could get Gaza. He could rebuild it with golf courses and clubs and ***** hotels on the beach, all without government subsidies, maybe the MIC and BlackRock could grant him some investment funding.
"Smotrich, leader of the far-right Religious Zionist party, suggested Israel had the opportunity to “eliminate” Gaza now that President Biden was out of office, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant had been fired, and members of opposition parties were out of the Israeli government."
Hmmm. In not the ASI's first odd historical parallel, it sounds like Death To Smoochy just admitted out loud that a Night of Long Knives in Tel Aviv has come to pass & perceived barriers to accelerated genocide are gone.
"Smotrich, leader of the far-right Religious Zionist party, suggested Israel had the opportunity to “eliminate” Gaza now that President Biden was out of office, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant had been fired, and members of opposition parties were out of the Israeli government."
Hmmm. In not the ASI's first odd historical parallel, it sounds like Death To Smoochy just admitted out loud that a Night of Long Knives in Tel Aviv has come to pass & perceived barriers to accelerated genocide are gone.
Israelis have their own "final solution" towards the Palestinian problem. They want them all dead.
It was never about the hostages.