Smotrich Unveils “Victory Plan”: A Settlement Project to Subjugate Gaza and Enforce Displacement

Nisaba Media (Haifa) - In what has been described as an escalatory and dangerous step in the war on the Gaza Strip, Israeli Finance Minister and member of the Security Cabinet, Bezalel Smotrich, unveiled on Thursday evening (August 28, 2025) his so-called “Victory Plan.” He claimed it represents the only path to end the conflict, now raging for more than ten months, and asserted that Israel could “decisively win” before the end of the calendar year.

Smotrich, known for his hard-right views, alleged that “a majority of Gaza’s residents prefer voluntary migration,” ignoring the humanitarian catastrophe endured by more than two million Palestinians under bombardment and siege.

He outlined his vision of “victory,” which includes militarily crushing Hamas, isolating it from the population, reducing Gaza’s territory through annexation into Israel, and opening the way for Palestinians to leave the enclave.

The Plan’s Details

The framework rests on two main options:

Complete surrender: Hamas would hand over all Israeli captives, dismantle its military infrastructure, and see its leaders depart the territory. In return, Israel would impose full and permanent control over Gaza, while “voluntary migration corridors” for Palestinians would be opened.

Military and political “decisive action”: If Hamas refuses, Smotrich calls for an intensive ground offensive, a comprehensive siege on Gaza City and central refugee camps, and direct Israeli control over humanitarian aid to deprive Hamas of resources.

The “political victory” component entails gradual annexation of Gaza’s land and linking it to the broader settlement project, including reviving the so-called “Trump Plan” for Palestinian resettlement abroad.

Implications and Significance

Smotrich’s remarks make clear that the Israeli vision goes beyond defeating Hamas militarily; it reflects a long-term settlement project aimed at dismantling Gaza’s social fabric and altering its demographic and geographic identity. The proposal evokes strong rejection internationally, as it recalls the forced displacement schemes Palestinians have faced since the 1948 Nakba.

Politically, observers argue that Smotrich’s plan exposes Israel’s internal divide: one camp seeks a U.S.-backed political settlement, while another, led by hardline ministers, pushes for an “absolute victory” regardless of international law.

Analysts warn the plan is not merely a military roadmap but an effort to impose a new reality in Gaza similar to the West Bank, where settlement expansion and creeping annexation have become the norm.

A Broader Reading

The “Victory Plan” aligns with the ideological agenda of Israel’s current government, which regards Gaza as both a demographic and security burden. It seeks to transform the enclave into a zone of permanent military control while reducing its Palestinian population through economic and humanitarian pressure.

Smotrich’s concurrent remarks on “rebuilding the Temple” in Jerusalem underscore the link between Gaza, Jerusalem, and the West Bank as part of a broader settler-colonial project.

Still, critics note the plan may serve as political theater, aimed at appeasing an Israeli public frustrated with the prolonged conflict and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s failure to achieve stated objectives. Yet its danger lies in mainstreaming the discourse of mass displacement and annexation, raising the specter of deeper regional instability and prolonged cycles of violence.