The Palestinian Foreign Ministry has strongly condemned Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich for suggesting that starving Palestinians in Gaza may be moral. The ministry called on the International Criminal Court to issue an arrest warrant for Smotrich, accusing him of supporting a policy of genocide against Palestinians. Smotrich’s comments have sparked outrage internationally, with calls for countries to condemn him and ban him from entering their territory.
In response to criticisms, Smotrich defended Israel’s blockade on Gaza, claiming it is necessary for maintaining international legitimacy. The ongoing blockade has caused severe hardships for Palestinians in Gaza, who are on the verge of starvation. The Israeli military’s relentless bombing has further exacerbated the situation, making it challenging to distribute aid to those in need.
While ICC prosecutors are seeking arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Defence Minister Yaov Gallant, Smotrich has not been included in their list. Smotrich has a history of making controversial and anti-Palestinian statements, including advocating for the destruction of Palestinian villages.
The European Union and the United States have also weighed in on the situation, urging Israel to investigate allegations of sexual assault against Palestinian detainees at the Sde Teiman prison. Reports of abuse at the facility, including rape, torture, and extrajudicial killings, have raised serious concerns about human rights violations. The US State Department called for zero tolerance for sexual abuse and called on Israel to hold those responsible fully accountable.
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