Israel's Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has taken disciplinary action against a cabinet minister who appeared to suggest that Israel should consider a nuclear strike on Gaza. Heritage Minister Amihay Eliyahu, a member of a far-right party within the coalition government, has been suspended from cabinet meetings "until further notice," according to a statement from Netanyahu's office. Eliyahu's remarks, made during a radio interview, drew immediate condemnation from the Arab world, raised concerns among Israeli broadcasters, and were deemed "objectionable" by a U.S. official.
Eliyahu's comments come at a time when the war with Hamas in Gaza has resulted in a high number of Palestinian civilian casualties, intensifying international anxieties over Israel's tactics. However, it is important to note that neither Eliyahu nor his party leader are part of the streamlined ministerial forum overseeing the Gaza conflict, nor do they have access to information regarding Israel's nuclear capabilities or the authority to activate them. Netanyahu's office emphasized that Eliyahu's statements were not grounded in reality, and that Israel was operating within the boundaries of international law to prevent harm to innocent civilians.
The League of Arab States issued a statement expressing alarm at Eliyahu's "racist" remarks, accusing him of confirming the existence of Israeli nuclear weapons and revealing the "abhorrent racist view" held by Israelis towards Palestinians. The death toll among Palestinians in the conflict has now reached approximately 9,500, prompting widespread international concern.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken paid a visit to the Middle East over the weekend in an attempt to mediate the ongoing crisis. A senior U.S. State Department official condemned Eliyahu's statement as "objectionable" and emphasized that he was not speaking on behalf of the government. In response to the backlash, Eliyahu attempted to clarify his remarks on social media, claiming that the nuclear remark was metaphorical. However, he maintained that a strong and forceful response to terrorism was necessary to deter Hamas and its supporters.
Hamas, the Islamist group advocating for the destruction of Israel, condemned Eliyahu's comments and labeled it as "criminal Israeli terrorism" that poses a danger to the entire region. The radio interview also noted that a military operation targeting Gaza would put around 240 hostages, including foreigners and Israelis, at risk. In response, Eliyahu argued that war comes with a price but expressed his hopes for the hostages' safe return.
Benny Gantz, a centrist ex-general who joined Netanyahu in the streamlined war cabinet from the opposition, criticized Eliyahu's remarks for being damaging and exacerbating the pain of hostage families. The situation remains tense, with international focus on Israel's actions in Gaza and efforts by diplomats to bring an end to the conflict.