Israel’s Ben Gvir slams ‘best friend’ US for condemning call for mass exodus of Gazans to make way for Israeli setters
- Itamar Ben-Gvir hit back at the US following his comments that Palestinians should be encouraged to emigrate from Gaza and for Israeli settlers to return there
- Washington called the comments ‘inflammatory and irresponsible’
Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has hit back at ally the United States over its criticism of his push for the transfer of Gazans out of the Palestinian territory.
“The United States is our best friend, but first of all we will do what is best for the State of Israel: the migration of hundreds of thousands from Gaza will allow the [Israeli] residents of the envelope to return home and live in security and will protect the IDF [Israeli] soldiers,” the far-right minister posted on X late on Tuesday.
His post comes after the US State Department criticised his call for a population transfer as “inflammatory and irresponsible”.
Washington has called out both Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who have called for Israeli settlers to return to Gaza and for the territory’s Palestinian inhabitants to leave.
State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said Washington “rejects recent statements from Israeli Ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben Gvir advocating for the resettlement of Palestinians outside of Gaza”.