Israeli Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir (center) dances at a conference calling for the establishment of Israeli settlements in the Gaza Strip (European)
Both Benny Gantz, Minister in the Israeli War Council, and the leader of the opposition in Israel, Yair Lapid, denounced the settlement conference that was held last Saturday in occupied Jerusalem with the participation of ministers in the ruling Israeli coalition.
Gantz said that the participation of ministers and members of the ruling Israeli coalition in the conference that called for the restoration of settlement in the Gaza Strip "harmed Israeli society, Israel's legitimacy before the international community, and the efforts made to return the prisoners detained in Gaza."
For his part, the leader of the opposition in Israel, Yair Lapid, accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of not paying attention to the damage caused by the conference calling for the return of settlement in Gaza, and the participation of ministers and members of the Knesset from the ruling Likud Party in the conference.
Lapid said, "All Netanyahu cares about is staying in power even if Israel burns," adding that Netanyahu "is not qualified to lead the country and that it is time to replace him."
Twelve ministers in Benjamin Netanyahu's government participated in a popular conference on Sunday calling for the revival of settlements in the Gaza Strip and taking measures to encourage the displacement of Palestinians from the Strip.
Among the participating ministers are members of the Likud Party headed by Benjamin Netanyahu. National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir called on the Prime Minister to take what he described as courageous measures, by resuming the settlement project in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.
The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) considered the ruling coalition’s call in Israel during the conference to annex the West Bank and Gaza “a revelation of premeditated intentions to implement the crime of displacement and ethnic cleansing against our people, and a disregard for the recent decisions of the International Court of Justice, which demanded that it take all measures to stop the genocide in Gaza.”
Source: Al Jazeera + agencies