Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu suspended far-right Culture Minister Amichai Eliyahu on Sunday after he suggested dropping a nuclear bomb on Gaza was a possible way to address the threat from Hamas.
Asked in a radio interview on Sunday whether Israel should drop a nuclear bomb on Gaza, Eliyahu replied that it was an option, the Jerusalem Post reported, noting that the comment came as part of a larger discussion about humanitarian aid.
“We would not have provided humanitarian aid to the Nazis,” he said, according to reports. “There are no innocent people in Gaza.”
Netanyahu sharply rejected the remark, saying it was “not based on reality” and stressed Israel’s commitment to comply with international law and avoid unnecessary deaths.
“Minister Amihai Eliyahu’s statements do not correspond to reality,” Netanyahu said in a post on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, before suspending Eliyahu from Cabinet meetings.
“Israel and them [Israel Defense Forces] act in accordance with the highest standards of international law to prevent harm to innocent people. We will do this until we win,” Netanyahu added.
The comments also drew widespread condemnation from Israeli government officials – both from members of the right-wing ruling coalition and members of the opposition.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said he “condemns the baseless and irresponsible words of Minister Amichai Eliyahu,” adding: “It’s good that these are not the people responsible for Israel’s security.”
Opposition leader Yair Lapid called on Netanyahu in a statement on Sunday morning
“A shocking and crazy statement from an irresponsible minister. It has harmed the families of the abductees, harmed Israeli society and damaged our international reputation,” Lapid said.
“The presence of extremists in the government endangers us and the success of the war’s goals – the defeat of Hamas and the return of the abductees. Netanyahu must fire him this morning,” he added.
The comments come as Israel faces growing opposition to its bombings in Gaza. Amid calls for a ceasefire, Netanyahu said the bombing would not stop until the approximately 240 hostages taken by Hamas on October 7 were returned.
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