Far-right Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has openly called for Gaza annexation if Hamas refuses to disarm, surrender, and release Israeli captives. Speaking at a news conference on Thursday, he declared that Israel should annex sections of Gaza each week for four consecutive weeks.
Smotrich outlined a phased plan in which Palestinians would first be pushed southward. He said Israel should then impose a siege on Gaza’s northern and central regions before completing annexation of the entire enclave. “This can be achieved in three to four months,” he said, describing the process as a way to “win in Gaza by the end of the year.”
Israeli Army Escalates Gaza Offensive
The statement came as Israeli forces advanced deeper into Gaza City, intensifying attacks in an attempt to seize the area and displace nearly one million Palestinians. Heavy bombardments have left large parts of the city in ruins.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned last week that Israel’s campaign risked “massive death and destruction.” Humanitarian agencies have echoed concerns, stressing that ongoing attacks coupled with blockade policies are worsening famine in the enclave.
Gaza Faces Worsening Famine
As Israel continues blocking food, water, and medical aid, Gaza’s humanitarian crisis deepens. Guterres said on Thursday, “Famine is no longer a looming possibility; it’s a present-day catastrophe.” He added that people were dying of hunger, while pregnant women faced unimaginable risks due to collapsed healthcare systems.
Local reports confirm that families are being displaced daily, with no access to clean water or basic necessities. Aid groups say conditions have deteriorated beyond crisis levels, pointing to deliberate starvation as a weapon of war.
Hamas Rejects Annexation Remarks
Hamas strongly condemned Smotrich’s remarks, calling them “an official call to exterminate our people.” The group said the statement exposed the reality of Israel’s ongoing war, which they described as genocide and forced displacement rather than a military campaign.
In a statement, Hamas declared, “Smotrich’s words are not isolated extremist opinions, but rather an official admission of siege and starvation policies against civilians.” The group urged the international community to hold Israeli leaders accountable for crimes against humanity.
Read more: NASA Research Explores Microgravity’s Impact on Astronauts
Netanyahu Under Pressure
Smotrich pressed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to adopt his plan “in full immediately.” While Netanyahu did not respond directly, he has previously hinted at reoccupying Gaza and bringing the entire Strip under Israeli control.
Israel’s military has already forced thousands of Palestinians to leave so-called “combat zones” in the north, pushing them into southern areas that are also being bombed. Rights groups say this amounts to ethnic cleansing.
Far-Right Push for Settlements
Smotrich, a longtime supporter of illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, also called for rebuilding settlements in Gaza that were dismantled in 2005. Other far-right members of Netanyahu’s coalition have echoed this view and threatened to topple the government if any ceasefire deal with Hamas is reached.
Analysts warn that such rhetoric reflects a growing push among Israel’s leadership to re-establish full occupation of Gaza, despite international opposition. The annexation proposal signals a broader agenda to expand settlements and consolidate Israeli control over Palestinian land.
International Condemnation Grows
Smotrich’s plan has sparked condemnation from global rights groups, which argue that annexation would violate international law. Critics say his remarks reinforce Israel’s long-term strategy of displacement and occupation, using famine and siege as tools of war.
The UN and humanitarian organizations continue to call for an immediate ceasefire, warning that ongoing Israeli actions in Gaza risk pushing the enclave into irreversible catastrophe. Yet, with voices like Smotrich’s gaining traction within Israel’s leadership, Palestinians fear the world is witnessing a deliberate plan of annexation, not just military conflict.
Follow us on Instagram, YouTube, Facebook,, X and TikTok for latest updates
PDMA Issues Flood Warning in KP Amid Heavy Rains
The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has issued a flood warning after the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) forecast persistent heavy rains in several districts. The advisory highlights risks of flash floods, landslides, and urban flooding in different regions of the province.
NASA Research Explores Microgravity’s Impact on Astronauts
The microgravity research has gained new attention as NASA intensifies its efforts to protect astronaut health. Scientists aboard the International Space Station (ISS) are investigating how weightlessness affects vision and brain pressure. The study, led in collaboration with global space agencies, aims to develop practical countermeasures that could safeguard astronauts on long-duration missions to the Moon and Mars.
Teen Suicide Linked to ChatGPT Sparks Lawsuit
The tragic ChatGPT lawsuit filed by the parents of 16-year-old Adam Raine has forced OpenAI to change how its chatbot responds to users in emotional distress. Adam’s family alleges that months of unsafe conversations with the bot encouraged him toward suicide, raising urgent questions about AI safety for vulnerable users.