Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir renewed his calls on Thursday (July 3) for the Netanyahu government to completely occupy the Gaza Strip, halt humanitarian aid, and forcibly evacuate Palestinians from the territory, Anadolu Agency reported.
Speaking to Israel’s Army Radio, Ben-Gvir criticised ongoing ceasefire negotiations with Hamas, calling any desire for an agreement a “terrible mistake.” He declared, “We should not stop for a moment. We must achieve a complete victory, occupy all of Gaza, stop humanitarian aid.”
His remarks came as negotiations continued between Israel and Hamas, mediated by Qatar and Egypt, aiming for a ceasefire and prisoner exchange deal after nearly 22 months of war that has devastated Gaza. Despite Israel’s military operations, it has failed to achieve its stated goals of rescuing hostages and destroying Hamas’s operational capacity.
Israel estimates about 50 hostages remain in Gaza, with 20 believed alive, while over 10,400 Palestinian prisoners are held in Israeli jails under harsh conditions. Several detainees have died due to torture, starvation, or medical neglect.
In a separate interview with Israel’s public broadcaster KAN, Ben-Gvir reiterated his opposition to any hostage deal, urging Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich to join him in blocking the emerging agreement. He claimed there was a “historic opportunity to achieve real victory in Gaza, which includes the collapse of Hamas and encouraging the exodus” of Palestinians.
Both Ben-Gvir and Smotrich have consistently advocated for the total occupation of Gaza, expanding settlements, and expelling Palestinians from their lands, positions widely condemned as ethnic cleansing by international observers.
Meanwhile, Hamas stated Wednesday it was reviewing ceasefire proposals that include the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza and urgent humanitarian aid. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said there were “positive indications” towards a potential agreement.
Hamas has repeatedly affirmed it is ready to release all Israeli hostages in exchange for a permanent ceasefire and total Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, but Prime Minister Netanyahu remains opposed to a comprehensive deal. Analysts suggest his stance aims to preserve his fragile political position by continuing the war under limited ceasefires.
Earlier this week, US President Donald Trump claimed Israel had accepted the “necessary conditions” for a proposed 60-day ceasefire, but he did not detail these terms.
Since Israel launched its military campaign in October 2023 following Hamas’s cross-border attack, over 57,000 Palestinians – mostly women and children – have been killed, sparking global accusations of genocide. In November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza, while Israel faces genocide charges at the International Court of Justice.
Despite international calls for an immediate ceasefire, Israeli far-right ministers continue to push for a total conquest of Gaza, the dismantling of Hamas, and the mass displacement of Palestinians, raising fears of further escalation and regional destabilisation.
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