A junior member of Benjamin Netanyahu's cabinet was disciplined on Sunday for seemingly being open to the notion of Israel attacking Gaza with nuclear weapons, as the conflict with Hamas is causing an increasing number of Palestinian civilian casualties.
“Eliyahu’s statements are not based in reality. Israel and the IDF (military) are operating in accordance with the highest standards of international law to avoid harming innocents. We will continue to do so until our victory,” Netanyahu’s office said.
The League of Arab States said in a statement: “The racist statements of Israeli Minister Eliyahu are revealing. Not only does he admit that they possess a nuclear weapon, but he also confirms the reality of the Israelis’ abhorrent racist view towards the Palestinian people.”
The war has resulted in the tragic loss of approximately 9,500 Palestinian lives, leading to growing international apprehension regarding Israel's approach.
In response to the crisis, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken embarked on another diplomatic mission to the Middle East over the weekend in an effort to mediate and find solutions.
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“Obviously that was an objectionable statement and the prime minister made very clear that he (Eliyahu) wasn’t speaking on behalf of the government,” a senior U.S. State Department official said.
Eliyahu said in a social media post: “It is clear to anyone who is sensible that the nuclear remark was metaphorical.”
But he added: “A strong and disproportionate response to terrorism is definitely required, which will clarify to the Nazis and their supporters that terrorism is not worthwhile.”
A spokesperson for Hamas, an Islamist group that advocates Israel’s destruction, said Eliyahu represented “unprecedented criminal Israeli terrorism (that) constitutes a danger to the entire region and the world”.
As of my last knowledge update in January 2022, Hamas is designated as a terrorist organization by several countries and organizations, including the United States, the European Union, Canada, and others. Keep in mind that political designations can change, so it's essential to consult up-to-date and reliable sources for the most current information.
“In war, you pay a price,” the minister responded, while adding that he was praying for the return of the hostages.
Benny Gantz, a centrist ex-general who joined the conservative Netanyahu from the opposition in the streamlined war cabinet, said Eliyahu’s remarks had been damaging “and, even worse, added to the pain of the hostages’ families at home”.
