Israeli Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu has said Israel should not be concerned about hunger in Gaza, drawing condemnation from across the political spectrum.
The far-right Otzma Yehudit politician dismissed renewed UN warnings of a man-made famine in the besieged enclave, stating that the Israeli government is “racing toward erasing Gaza.”
“Thank God we are erasing this evil. All of Gaza will be Jewish,” Eliyahu told Radio Kol Barama on Thursday, according to Ynet.
“We shouldn’t be dealing with hunger in Gaza –let the world take care of them. No nation feeds its enemies. Have we completely lost our minds? Should we care about their evening meal?” he added.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu distanced himself from the comments, noting that Eliyahu is not a member of the Security Cabinet, which determines the conduct of the war.
“This government’s policy is clear and united. His statements do not represent it,” Netanyahu said.