Israel could threaten to annex parts of Gaza to increase pressure on Hamas — the Palestinian group designated a terrorist organization by the United States and the European Union — an Israeli official said on July 30, an idea that would deal a major blow to Palestinian hopes for statehood.
The statements made by security cabinet member Zeev Elkin come a day after Britain said it would recognize a Palestinian state in September if Israel does not take steps to ease suffering in Gaza and agree to a ceasefire in the war with Hamas.
France, which last week said it would recognize a Palestinian state in September, and Saudi Arabia issued a statement on Tuesday, supported by Egypt, Qatar and the Arab League, outlining steps towards implementing the two-state solution.
As part of ending the war in Gaza, they said, Hamas "must end its rule in Gaza and hand over its weapons to the Palestinian Authority."
Israel has condemned warnings about recognizing a Palestinian state, saying such a move would be a gift to Hamas, which attacked Israel in October 2023, an attack that sparked the war in Gaza.
Accusing Hamas of trying to drag out the talks in order to extract concessions from Israel, Elkin told public broadcaster Kan that Israel could give the radical Palestinian group an ultimatum to reach an agreement, otherwise it would expand military action.
"The most painful thing for our enemy is the loss of territory," he said. "A clarification to Hamas that the moment they play games with us, they will lose land that they will never get back, would be an important tool of pressure."
Mediation efforts, aimed at reaching an agreement on a 60-day ceasefire and the release of the remaining hostages being held by Hamas, broke down last week, with the sides blaming each other for the stalemate.
Israel is facing international pressure over the situation in Gaza, where international organizations have warned that a worst-case scenario of famine is unfolding. On Wednesday, health authorities in Gaza announced that seven more hunger-related deaths had been recorded.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the day before that Britain's decision would be "reward for Hamas terrorism." He had made similar statements after France's announcement.
Netanyahu said earlier this month that he wants peace with the Palestinians, but said that the creation of any future Palestinian state would be a potential platform for the destruction of Israel, so he said security should remain in the hands of his state.
His cabinet includes far-right figures who openly call for the annexation of all Palestinian lands. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said Tuesday that the resumption of Jewish settlements in Gaza is “closer than ever,” calling Gaza “an inseparable part of the land of Israel.”/ REL (A2 Televizion)
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