A far-right minister in the Israeli government has ignited controversy and drawn sharp criticism for advocating that Israel should bomb humanitarian aid entering Gaza and pursue a policy of starvation against the Palestinian population there. The highly inflammatory remarks have sparked outrage among humanitarian organizations, international bodies, and even within Israel’s own political spectrum.
Amichay Eliyahu, the Heritage Minister from the Otzma Yehudit party, made the comments in an interview with Israel National News on Monday. Eliyahu stated that Israel “must stop humanitarian aid” to Gaza. He argued that providing food to those who fight against Israel endangers Israeli hostages and soldiers. In a particularly contentious assertion, Eliyahu accused the civilian population in Gaza of being complicit in the Hamas-led attacks and claimed they should suffer the consequences to pressure Hamas. “[The civilians] gave Hamas the wind in its sails,” he said.
Eliyahu’s remarks included a call to bomb food and fuel reserves within Gaza to further this strategy of starvation. He asserted that by cutting off essential supplies, Israel could exert direct pressure on Hamas by targeting the civilian population.
These statements echo similar sentiments expressed by other far-right figures in the Israeli government. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has also recently advocated for blocking all food, water, medicine, fuel, and other aid from entering Gaza, explicitly stating the goal of starving the population. Ben-Gvir has also reportedly suggested “bombing food warehouses and generators” to eliminate remaining supplies and electricity.
These hardline stances have reportedly led to disagreements within the Israeli establishment. Channel 12 reported a “major disagreement” between the army’s Chief of Staff, Eyal Zamir, and Minister Ben-Gvir regarding the entry of humanitarian aid. Zamir reportedly argued that Israel abides by international law and cannot starve the Gaza Strip, warning Ben-Gvir that such policies would endanger Israel by leading to further accusations of violating international law. Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara also reportedly intervened, reminding that Israel is obligated to bring aid into Gaza under international law.
The suggestion of intentionally targeting humanitarian aid and pursuing starvation as a tactic has been met with strong condemnation from various quarters. Humanitarian organizations have emphasized the severe consequences for the already vulnerable population in Gaza, where a humanitarian crisis is ongoing. International law prohibits the targeting of civilians and the use of starvation as a weapon of war.
Critics argue that such statements not only violate international norms but also harm Israel’s standing on the global stage. They warn that implementing such policies would likely lead to further isolation and condemnation.
While Prime Minister Netanyahu intervened during the reported disagreement between Zamir and Ben-Gvir, stating that ministers can express their opinions, the fact that such extreme views are being voiced by government officials is deeply concerning to many. It remains to be seen whether these statements will translate into official policy changes regarding the provision of humanitarian aid to Gaza. However, the controversy surrounding these remarks is likely to continue and further inflame the already fraught situation in the region.
