Israeli finance minister calls for building settlements near Gaza amid ongoing Israeli offensive

Israeli finance minister calls for building settlements near Gaza amid ongoing Israeli offensive Submitted by MEE staff on Sun, 08/02/2026 - 13:38 Bezalel Smotrich's proposal comes as Israeli strikes kill more Palestinians and US prepares additional military support A displaced Palestinian sits outside tents after an Israeli air strike struck the medical supplies warehouse at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza, 1 August 2026 (Eyad Baba/AFP) Off Israel 's far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich on Sunday called for the construction of three new Israeli settlements along the northern fence of Gaza. The statement comes as Israeli military attacks continue in Gaza and the occupied West Bank despite a ceasefire agreement announced in October. Smotrich, who heads Israel's Settlements Administration, urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to approve the plan in a post on X.