State of the World from NPR Israel’s far-right has dreams for Gaza
Feb 25, 2026
Itai Stern, NPR journalist reporting from Jerusalem, gives an on-the-ground view of Knesset debates over Gaza. He recounts far-right calls for Israeli control and settlement in Gaza. He describes heated speeches, resonant video imagery, and the clash between those demands and official ceasefire terms. The tension driving coalition pressure on policy is central to the conversation.
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Knesset Session Showed Hardline Calls For Gaza
- At a Knesset session hundreds of attendees watched videos and speeches calling for Israeli control over Gaza.
- Abidah Bachar, who lost his wife and son on October 7, said there are no innocent people in Gaza and drew applause while footage showed Israeli soldiers blowing up neighborhoods.
Far Right Pushes Annexation And Settlements In Gaza
- Far-right ministers openly argue Israel should annex Gaza and establish Jewish settlements as a security measure.
- Orit Struk predicted full Israeli sovereignty in Gaza within 10 years and Yariv Levin linked security directly to Jewish settlements.
Public Divisions And Calls To Rewrite Gaza's Demographics
- Polling shows Israeli society is divided on rebuilding Jewish settlements in Gaza after October 7.
- The far right sees an opportunity to 'rewrite history' in northern Gaza where many Palestinians were killed or forced to flee.