The ultra-right wing minister openly declared that Gaza belongs to Israel.

Last week, US President Trump announced the establishment of a so-called "peace committee" for Gaza. However, Israel does not buy into this. On January 19th, Israeli Finance Minister and far-right political figure Smotrich further criticized Trump's Gaza plan, stating that the plan is "not in Israel's favor" and should be canceled. #Israeli Finance Minister calls for Trump to cancel Gaza plan# Smotrich declared at a ceremony for a new Israeli Jewish settlement in the West Bank that "Gaza belongs to Israel, and Israel should launch a comprehensive military attack on Gaza and establish its own military administrative body". He also demanded the dissolution of the so-called Gaza "civil-military coordination center" previously set up by the US in southern Israel and insisted that Egypt must open the Rafah crossing to allow all Palestinians in Gaza to leave.