Key Facts
• August 28, 2025: Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich proposed Gaza annexation.
• Plan targets Hamas’ surrender, disarmament, and release of hostages since October 2023.
• If rejected, Israel to annex parts of Gaza weekly over four weeks.
• Smotrich claims the plan could be completed within 3–4 months.
• Initial step: Relocate Palestinians to southern Gaza, then encircle northern and central areas.
• Hamas condemned the plan as forced displacement and ethnic cleansing.
• Smotrich supports rebuilding settlements in Gaza, evacuated by Israel in 2005.
• Recently approved large-scale settlement construction in the West Bank.
• Goal of “E1” settlement project: Undermine Palestinian statehood aspirations.
Summary
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has proposed a controversial plan to annex parts of Gaza if Hamas refuses to surrender, disarm, and release hostages. The plan, announced on August 28, 2025, includes a phased annexation over four weeks, starting with relocating Palestinians to southern Gaza and encircling northern and central areas to eliminate Hamas. Smotrich claims the process could be completed within 3–4 months and has urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to adopt the plan immediately. Hamas has strongly opposed the proposal, labeling it as forced displacement and ethnic cleansing. Smotrich, a staunch supporter of settlement expansion, has also recently approved large-scale construction in the West Bank, including the “E1” project aimed at undermining Palestinian statehood. The plan has sparked significant controversy and heightened tensions in the region.
