On Sunday, Elijahu responded to the question during an interview with Kol Barama radio station whether a nuclear bomb should be dropped on the Gaza Strip: “That is one of the options.” he asked the interviewer about the fate of the hostages in the event of the dropping of an atomic bomb.
The leadership of the Israeli government clearly distanced itself from the statements made by the minister of the ruling right-wing extremist party, Otzma Jehudit. Prime Minister Netanyahu’s office said Elijahu will be excluded from all cabinet meetings “until further notice.” However, it was unclear whether he was also considering dismissal.
Netanyahu was quoted as saying that the minister’s comments “did not correspond to reality”. He stressed that Israel and its armed forces acted “in accordance with the highest standards of international law to avoid harming innocent people.” Israel “will continue to do this until we win,” Netanyahu said.
Outrage in the Israeli government
A forum representing families of those deported to the Gaza Strip and those missing described Elijahu’s comments as “reckless and cruel”. The forum explained that not only international law but also the “principles of human morality” speak strictly against the use of “weapons of mass destruction.”
Portal/Ronen Zvulun Netanyahu emphasized that Israel’s army would act “in accordance with the highest standards of international law.”
Defense Minister Joav Galant also condemned Elijahu’s “unfounded and irresponsible statements”. “It’s a good thing these aren’t the people responsible for Israel’s security,” he wrote on Twitter (X). Elijahu is not part of the Security Cabinet or the War Cabinet and is not considered influential. Opposition leader Benni Ganz described the statements as damaging: “What’s worse: they increased the pain of the families of the hostages.”
The Arab League said in a statement: “Israeli Minister Elijahu’s racist statements are revealing. Not only does it admit that they possess a nuclear weapon, but it also confirms the reality of the Israelis’ abhorrent racist attitude towards the Palestinian people.” Saudi Arabia called for the minister’s immediate dismissal. The Jordanian Foreign Ministry also strongly condemned the comments.
Elijahu wants to retake the Gaza Strip
Elijahu responded to the outrage by saying that his statement about the atomic bomb had a “metaphorical” meaning. Israel is committed to “doing everything in its power to bring the hostages home safely.” At the same time, he added: “A strong and disproportionate response to terrorism is definitely needed, making it clear to Nazis and their supporters that terrorism is not worth it.”
debate
Middle East: How to break the spiral of violence?
Elijahu also spoke out against the import of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip during the interview. “We also wouldn’t give humanitarian aid to the Nazis,” he said. There are no innocent civilians in the Gaza Strip. Elijahu advocated the recapture of territory evacuated in 2005 and the return of Israeli settlements. When asked about the fate of the Palestinian population, he said: “You can go to Ireland or the desert, the monsters of Gaza should find a solution themselves.”
Israel has never officially confirmed its possession of nuclear weapons. The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (Sipri) estimates that Israel has 90 nuclear warheads.
“Eliminate terrorists in hand-to-hand combat”
Meanwhile, Israel continued its war against Hamas over the weekend with airstrikes and the advance of ground troops into the Gaza Strip. The armed forces continue to “eliminate terrorists in hand-to-hand combat” and attack Hamas positions from the air, the army said on Sunday. Hamas accused Israel of bombing another refugee camp, killing 45 people.
Refugee camp hit
On Sunday night there were again mutual attacks by Israel and Hamas. Hamas again reported that Israeli rockets hit a refugee camp in the Gaza Strip. The information remained unconfirmed.
Since the Israeli deployment of ground troops to the Gaza Strip began about ten days ago, Israel claims to have bombed more than 2,500 “terrorist targets” in the Palestinian territory. The army announced that a Hamas “military base” was also hit on Sunday night. Israeli Defense Minister Gallant spoke of “intense fighting” and troops also entered residential areas.
Thousands dead since Hamas attack
The Israeli army’s stated objective is to completely destroy Hamas and its positions, some of which are hidden underground in a tunnel system. Hundreds of fighters from the Palestinian Organization, which controls the Gaza Strip, attacked Israel on October 7 and committed atrocities, especially against civilians. According to Israel, 1,400 people were killed in the attack and more than 240 others were taken hostage in the Gaza Strip.
According to the Hamas-controlled Ministry of Health, more than 9,770 people have been killed in the Palestinian territory, including 4,800 children, since Israel’s bombardment of the Gaza Strip began about a month ago. This information cannot be independently verified.
More relief supplies arrived
Meanwhile, another 30 trucks carrying humanitarian aid supplies arrived in Gaza. The goods were handed over to teams from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the UN Palestine Relief Agency (UNRWA), the Palestinian Red Crescent said. The Egyptian Red Crescent also delivered goods.
Portal/Israel Defense Forces Israeli army says “heavy fighting” continues in the rubble of Gaza
The UN World Food Program (WFP) called on Sunday for safe and expanded access to humanitarian aid. The need for humanitarian aid has soared and critical food stocks have reached dangerous levels, WFP Executive Director Cindy McCain said after a visit to the Rafah border crossing on Sunday.