Israeli Officials Discuss Plans for Settlements in Northern Gaza

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich have discussed plans to establish three settlements in northern Gaza. Last Monday, Smotrich told reporters that his ministry had prepared settlement plans for northern Gaza and that only Netanyahu's approval was needed to proceed.

The following day, Netanyahu said on Channel 14 that he preferred not to address the question of settlements when asked directly.

Israel dismantled its 21 settlements in Gaza in 2005. The area north of Gaza City has been largely destroyed during the current conflict, which began after the October 7, 2023 attacks. Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem are considered illegal under international law.

United Nations experts have accused Israel of deliberately imposing famine conditions and targeting children in Gaza.

Smotrich made his continued participation in the ruling coalition conditional on increased control over settlement policy. His Religious Zionist party faces challenges meeting the electoral threshold in elections due before October. Netanyahu faces multiple corruption trials and public pressure over the lack of an independent inquiry into the October 7 attacks.

Political analyst Ori Goldberg noted that only one Jewish member of parliament, Ofer Cassif, is expected to oppose settlement plans. Israeli professor Neve Gordon said statements about Gaza settlements appeal to voters who have been exposed to repeated calls for strong action since October 7.

He added that the push to resettle Gaza extends beyond rhetoric into consistent political efforts.