Smotrich's remarks prove Israeli war on Gaza rooted in dehumanization of Palestinians

By Alireza Akbari

In another scandalous example of how Israeli regime officials have weaponized genocidal language against Palestinians, far-right minister Bezalel Smotrich earlier this week said starvation is justified.

“We can’t, in the current global reality, manage a war. Nobody will let us cause two million civilians to die of hunger, even though it might be justified and moral until our hostages are returned,” Smotrich was quoted as saying at a conference organized by Zionist media outlet Israel Hayom.

“We bring in aid because there is no choice,” he hastened to add, implying that Palestinians in Gaza, who have been reeling under the genocidal war for more than 300 days, should be starved.

Independent UN investigators have repeatedly indicted the regime in Tel Aviv of using starvation, which has killed hundreds of children in Gaza since October 7, 2023, as a weapon of war. 

“We declare that Israel’s intentional and targeted starvation campaign against the Palestinian people is a form of genocidal violence and has resulted in famine across all of Gaza,” they said in July.

“We call upon the international community to prioritise the delivery of humanitarian aid by land by any means necessary, end Israel’s siege, and establish a ceasefire.”

However, the regime officials, including Smotrich, have been using genocidal language to dehumanize Palestinians and lend legitimacy to their daily massacres and starvation.

Palestinian foreign ministry on Thursday called on the International Criminal Court (ICC) to issue an arrest warrant for Smotrich for saying it may be “justified and moral” to starve Palestinians.

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“The ministry further affirmed that such [a] statement is considered a direct disregard for international legitimacy decisions and international consensus on protecting civilians and securing their basic humanitarian needs,” the ministry statement noted.

Hamas political bureau member Izzat Al-Rishq termed the Israeli finance minister’s comments as "a major scandal" for the Zionist regime, as cited by the Palestinian media.

“We usually see criminals cover up their crimes, but we are dealing with an enemy who openly confesses to their heinous crimes,” he said.

Iran's foreign ministry condemned Smotrich's remarks as "an overt confession" of criminal intent, adding that it amounts to “public declaration and confession” of what the regime is involved in.

“The remarks by this member of the criminal Zionist gang are only a sort of public declaration and confession, as the world has witnessed the Zionist regime’s actions on the ground in the past ten months in the genocide and massacre of innocent women, children and civilians in Gaza through bombing and also man-made famine and hunger,” spokesman Nasser Kanaani stated.

 Genocidal language as a weapon of war

A close examination of statements issued by Israeli officials since the start of Tel Aviv’s genocidal campaign reveals a pattern of dehumanizing language against Palestinians in Gaza.

Israeli military affairs minister Yoav Gallant in October last year, days after the carpet bombing of Gaza started, referred to Gaza's children as “children of darkness.”

“This is a war between the sons of light and the sons of darkness, and it will be deadly but it will change the situation forever,” said Gallant, in order to legitimize the genocide of Palestinians.

Gallant further called Palestinians “human animals,” in comments that triggered widespread outrage.

“There will be no electricity, no food, no water, no fuel, everything will be closed. We are fighting against human animals and will act accordingly,” he was quoted as saying.

In early November, as the Israeli army advanced into Gaza City, Gallant described Gaza as "the biggest terrorism base built by man" during a televised news conference.

This rhetoric was echoed by Israeli regime president Isaac Herzog, who suggested collective punishment for Palestinians by stating, "it is an entire nation out there that is responsible," dismissing the notion of innocent civilians being butchered in Gaza by the genocidal regime backed by the West.

Also in October 2023, far-right Israeli minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, responding to international criticism of Israel’s blockade, declared that "the only thing that needs to enter Gaza are hundreds of tons of explosives from the Air Force."

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Ben-Gvir's hardline stance was made further clear when he stated, "My right, my wife’s right, my children’s right to move around Judea and Samaria is more important than the right to movements of Arabs."

His inhumane approach extended to Palestinian prisoners, as he revealed, “We will give them minimal food to survive,” sparking international concern over the dire conditions of Palestinian prisoners.

In the aftermath of Israeli forces targeting civilian structures, including hospitals, mosques, and schools in the Gaza Strip, Israeli military spokesman Daniel Hagari openly stated that their focus was on "maximum damage, not accuracy," signaling a disregard for precision in their operations.

Israeli energy minister Israel Katz also defended these actions with a callous remark.

"Humanitarian aid to Gaza? No electrical switch will be turned on, no hydrant will be opened and no fuel truck will enter…Humanitarianism for humanitarianism. And no one will preach us morality," he said, reflecting a dismissive attitude toward international humanitarian concerns.

Nearly 40,000 Palestinians have been killed since October 7, 2023, mostly women and children, and more than 91,600 others have been injured, according to Gaza’s health authorities.

In June, the UN special rapporteur on Palestinian affairs Francesca Albanese said Smotrich is the mastermind of the ongoing genocide in Gaza, referring to his genocidal statements and actions.

“Even considering the significant political pressure on the ICC, I really don't understand why the ICC Prosecutor has not yet requested an arrest warrant against this man, who is a key mastermind of Israel's genocidal policies against the Palestinians,” she said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

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