Jerusalem. An Israeli government minister from the right-wing Otzma Zionist party said Sunday that dropping nuclear bombs on the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip is “an option,” prompting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (Benjamin Netanyahu ) to indefinitely suspend him from government meetings.
In a radio interview, Jerusalem Affairs and Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu said that ‘there is no one in Gaza who is not involved in the fighting’, so providing humanitarian aid to the area would be ‘a failure’. When he was asked that according to him all the fighters in Gaza are there, is a nuclear attack on the Gaza Strip “an option”. In response he said, “This is one way.”
Both the ruling coalition and the opposition became angry at his remarks and the opposition demanded his ouster from the government. After this outrage, Iliyahu retracted his statement and called it an ‘exaggerated’ comment. He said, “It is clear to all thinking people that this comment about the nuclear (bomb) is just an exaggeration. We really need to show a strong response to terrorism so that it becomes clear to the Nazis and their supporters that terrorism is meaningless….”
Eliyahu said, ‘At the same time, it is also clear that Israel has an obligation to return the hostages alive and in good condition. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister has suspended Iliyahu from government meetings indefinitely. The Prime Minister’s Office gave this information. He said that Eliyahu is not part of the Cabinet Security Committee that takes war-related decisions. Netanyahu described this comment as ‘beyond the truth’.
The Prime Minister said, ‘Israel and the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) are taking action in accordance with the high standards of international law to ensure that no harm is caused to innocent people. We will continue to do so until we ensure victory.’ Defense Minister Yoav Galant, in a post on ‘X’, called Eliyahu’s statement ‘baseless’ and said it was ‘good that these people are not the people in charge of Israel’s security.’ ‘
Opposition leader Yair Lapid described Eliyahu’s statement as ‘appalling and insane’ statement by an irresponsible minister. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia also condemned Ilyahu’s ‘extreme’ suggestion. It is said that with the mediation of America, Saudi Arabia is in talks with Israel to normalize relations.
The Gulf country’s Foreign Ministry said the minister’s statement “demonstrates the extent to which extremism and cruelty have penetrated the thinking of the Israeli government.”