Likud MK Amit Halevi launched a scathing attack against real estate developer and Donald Trump associate Steve Witkoff, accusing him and his associates of endangering Israel’s security on Monday.
“These people are leading us to the gates of hell,” Halevi said in an interview with Army Radio.
The Likud lawmaker emphasized that the Gaza Strip must ultimately come under Israeli control.
“Sooner or later, Israel will control Gaza – there is no other way,” he said.
Halevi previously called for establishing full Israeli control over the Strip in an interview with 103FM several months ago.
“If you control the territory, then no one else controls the territory," he said.
"You don’t leave a vacuum – and you don’t leave a vacuum for any curriculum that calls for raping Jewish women and murder.”
He went on to challenge the prevailing discourse surrounding Israel’s presence in the region.
'Gaza belongs to Israel exactly as Tel Aviv belongs to Israel'
“We are thwarting the terrorists, but not this lie called Palestinian-ness – as if we are occupiers,” he said. “Are we occupying Gaza? How can we be occupiers in Gaza? Gaza belongs to Israel exactly as Tel Aviv belongs to Israel – in exactly the same measure.”
Halevi also directed criticism at IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir.
“The chief of staff has no idea about the international system or economics – those aren’t his areas. He needs to deal with only one thing, and that’s conquering the Strip,” he said.
According to Halevi, failing to eliminate Hamas entirely would mark a step backward for the country.
“If we end October 7 with this Islamist organization still on its feet and it returns to develop its monster, Israel will go backwards,” he said. “We need to end October 7 with a complete defeat of Hamas.”