Israeli Minister Seeks to Expel Palestinians from West Bank and Gaza
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has once again sparked controversy by declaring he would pursue policies to “encourage migration” of Palestinians from the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
Smotrich, a far-right politician, is one of the figures behind the Israeli government’s recent controversial decision to approve a proposal to register the majority of West Bank land as “state property” if Palestinians cannot prove ownership.
The Religious Zionism party led by Smotrich represents the hardline right-wing faction within Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.
The controversial remarks, as reported by AFP and The Times of Israel on Wednesday (18 February 2026), were delivered by Smotrich during a Religious Zionism party event held on Tuesday (17 February) evening. He sought to outline what he believed should be the objectives of the next Israeli government.
“We will erase the notion of an Arab terror state,” Smotrich declared in his statement.
“We will finally officially and practically annul the accursed Oslo Accords and begin the path towards sovereignty, whilst encouraging migration from Gaza and Judea and Samaria,” he said, using the biblical terms employed by Israel to refer to the West Bank.
“There is no other long-term solution,” Smotrich insisted, receiving applause from attendees at the event.
The Oslo Accords refer to two agreements signed in 1993 (Oslo I) and 1995 (Oslo II) between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO), which established a framework for a two-state solution and independent Palestinian governance.
The concept put forward by Smotrich, which critics argue amounts to ethnic cleansing, has been repeatedly promoted by Israeli right-wing political leaders.
Israeli parliamentary elections are scheduled for October, with the Religious Zionism party led by Smotrich consistently polling near or below the electoral threshold.
Smotrich’s controversial remarks were delivered after the Israeli government drew widespread condemnation for approving a proposal to register the majority of West Bank land as “state property” if Palestinians cannot prove ownership.
The controversial proposal, according to Israeli local television network KAN, was submitted by Smotrich together with Justice Minister Yariv Levin and Defence Minister Israel Katz. Smotrich stated on Sunday (15 February) that the move was a continuation of the “settlement revolution to control all of our land”.
Condemnation has poured in from numerous countries, with United Nations missions from 85 nations collectively denouncing Tel Aviv on Tuesday (17 February).
The Palestinian Authority also reacted strongly, warning that Israel’s move amounted to “de facto annexation” and a violation of international law.