Israel Hamas War: PM Netanyahu furious over 'option' of nuclear attack on Gaza, suspends Israeli minister
Time to Read 3 Min
The war between Israel and Hamas has been going on for a month. Prime Minister Netanyahu has pledged to destroy the terrorist organization Hamas.
Military action has been taking place on the bases of terrorist organization Hamas for the last one month. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has ordered Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to take action in Gaza. According to the news, PM Netanyahu has dismissed the minister who called nuclear attack on Gaza 'an option'. Netanyahu suspended the minister who proposed discussing the nuclear attack at the meeting.
Israeli minister Eliyahu of the far-right Otzma Yehudit party, which is part of the government on Israel's nuclear policy, said dropping a nuclear bomb on the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip was "an option." However, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, angered by the discussion of nuclear attack in government meetings, suspended the minister indefinitely.
Nuclear attack also "an option"?
In a radio interview regarding Netanyahu's discussion of a nuclear strike, Amichai Eliyahu, Minister of Heritage and Jerusalem Affairs, said that "there are no non-combatants in Gaza." He said that providing humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip would be a "failure". When asked whether he thought a nuclear strike on the Gaza Strip was also "an option" as there were no non-combatants in Gaza? To this Eliyahu replied, "This is one way."
Said in defense in case of dispute, symbolic comment
He said his comments enraged ruling coalition and opposition members and led to demands for his dismissal from the government. Following the uproar, Eliyahu retracted his statement and described it as a "symbolic" comment.
What kind of policy against terrorism?
He said, it is clear to any thinking person that the comment about nuclear was symbolic. We must indeed mount a forceful and uncompromising response to terror. Eliyahu said this would send a clear message to the Nazis and their supporters that terrorism is not meaningful. This is the only formula by which democracy can deal with terrorism.
What did the angry Prime Minister say?
Eliyahu called for de-escalation, saying it is clear that Israel is obliged to do everything to return the captives alive and in good health." According to reports, Prime Minister Netanyahu indefinitely suspended Eliyahu from government meetings. A statement from the PMO said Eliyahu is not part of the security cabinet involved in wartime decision-making, nor does he have influence over the war cabinet directing the war against Islamist Hamas.
Netanyahu called the comments "detached from reality." "Israel and the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) are acting in accordance with the highest standards of international law to protect uninvolved civilians from harm. We will continue to do so until victory," the prime minister said.
Defense Minister Yoav Galant called Eliyahu's statements "baseless" and said it was "good that such people are not the people in charge of Israel's security." Opposition leader Yair Lapid also described Eliyahu's comments as "appalling and insane remarks from an irresponsible minister."
Lapid said that Eliyahu angered the families of (241 Gaza) detainees. They angered Israeli society and damaged our international reputation. The presence of extremists in government jeopardizes our success and our war goals of defeating Hamas and returning hostages. Netanyahu should fire him.
Observers believe that Israel is coming under pressure from the international community due to the increasing number of deaths in Gaza. Such comments harm his efforts to maintain support for his "right to self-defense." Israel has launched a large-scale diplomatic effort to garner support globally. Secretary of State Eli Cohen has instructed the country's missions around the world to demonstrate to lawmakers and the community the horrific scenes that followed Hamas's cowardly actions on October 7.
