2025-05-10T00:32:03Z

---

The political landscape in Israel has become increasingly influenced by far-right figures, notably Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir, both of whom play significant roles in the current government under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Their presence and actions are drawing international scrutiny, especially as they navigate a complex relationship with the United States under the Trump administration.

Since Donald Trump returned to the presidency, a notable influx of foreign leaders has visited Washington, each bringing their own agendas and hopes for cooperation. While some leaders, like Canada's Mark Carney, may feel their meetings bore fruit, others, such as Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, faced a more complicated reality regarding U.S. support. However, not all diplomatic engagements have made headlines. One such visit that received relatively little attention was from Bezalel Smotrich, a polarizing figure in Israeli politics.

Smotrich, who resides in a West Bank settlement viewed as illegal under international law, has a history of making inflammatory remarks. He has previously called for the destruction of a Palestinian town and has dismissed the existence of Palestinian identity entirely. In an infamous statement directed at Arab members of Israel's Parliament, he claimed they were present 'by mistake' and criticized Israel's founding Prime Minister, David Ben-Gurion, for not expelling them in 1948.

This extreme stance led to the Biden administration's refusal to engage with Smotrich, who accused the U.S. president of promoting antisemitism when sanctions were levied against Israeli settlers accused of violence against Palestinians. However, in a significant shift, Smotrich was welcomed by U.S. officials in March, where he met with Scott Bessent and the two pledged to enhance cooperation, signaling a troubling embrace of extremist elements in Israeli politics by the U.S. government.

Alongside Smotrich is Itamar Ben-Gvir, who serves as Israel's national security minister. Known for advocating harsh measures against Gaza, he has supported the blockade that has prevented essential goods, including food and medicine, from reaching the area for over two months. Ben-Gvir has gone so far as to suggest bombing food storage facilities in Gaza to pressure Hamas, a proposal that was rebuffed by the State Department, which emphasized its commitment to humanitarian aid.

Despite this, Ben-Gvir was recently a guest at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, where he reported receiving backing from senior Republican officials for his controversial proposals. In contrast, many U.S. officials and humanitarian organizations have expressed alarm over the deteriorating situation in Gaza, where food supplies are critically low. The World Food Programme recently indicated that its food stocks were depleted, while World Central Kitchen, led by celebrity chef José Andrés, announced it was forced to close its operations due to lack of resources.

As former President Trump prepares for a visit to the Middle East, he acknowledged the dire conditions in Gaza, stating, 'People are starving,' and expressed intentions to facilitate food assistance. However, any proposed aid distribution may hinge on the Israeli government's controversial new military strategy, dubbed 'Gideon's Chariots,' which aims to further bombard Gaza. This plan reportedly involves the relocation of Gaza's population to a smaller area near the Egyptian border, a move that raises significant humanitarian concerns.

Smotrich has outlined the grim implications of this plan, suggesting that Palestinians would be confined to a desperate existence in a reduced space, leading many to seek resettlement elsewhere. This anticipated action has drawn widespread condemnation from the international community, with the UK’s Middle East minister openly opposing the escalation of Israeli military operations.

Criticism has not been limited to foreign governments; influential voices in the U.S., including former officials, have condemned the situation as tantamount to 'slow-motion ethnic cleansing.' The ongoing blockade, coupled with remarks from ultranationalist Israeli leaders, lends credence to accusations of potential war crimes against Israel, particularly given the historical context of the October 7 attacks that preceded these events.

In the face of such accusations, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has rejected claims of wrongdoing, labeling them as absurd and antisemitic. Nonetheless, as the situation in Gaza worsens, the eyes of the world remain focused on the actions of the Israeli government and its relations with the U.S., particularly concerning humanitarian aid and military operations. This evolving narrative is indicative of a broader geopolitical struggle that continues to unfold, setting the stage for future diplomatic engagements and potential fallout.