JERUSALEM, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- Israeli cabinet ministers on Sunday urged the annexation of the occupied West Bank in response to Britain, Canada and Australia's recognition of a Palestinian state.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, a far-right member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition, called for "immediate countermeasures." Writing on X, he urged "the immediate application of sovereignty in Judea and Samaria," using Israel's term for the West Bank, and said Israel must "crush" the internationally-recognized Palestinian Authority.
Ben-Gvir said he would submit a proposal for annexing the West Bank at the next cabinet meeting.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, another far-right coalition partner, also pressed Netanyahu to impose Israeli sovereignty over the territory to "remove the foolish idea of a Palestinian state from the agenda forever."
"Mr. Prime Minister, this is the time, and it is in your hands," Smotrich said.
Both ministers, who lead pro-settler parties and live in West Bank settlements, stopped short of threatening to leave the coalition.
They have long advocated annexation of the West Bank and the rebuilding of settlements in the Gaza Strip, where Israeli forces have been fighting for almost two years in an offensive the United Nations has described as genocidal.
The Israeli military said on Sunday that more than half of Gaza City's residents have fled, as Israel threatened to intensify its ground and air assault on the city.
The military stated that "more than 550,000" civilians had evacuated. Xinhua could not independently verify the figure.
The military added that three full divisions had completed their advance into Gaza City and were now operating in what it described as Hamas strongholds.
Israel announced last week a large-scale operation to seize Gaza City, the enclave's largest urban center, with officials vowing to destroy what remains of the already devastated city.
Israel seized the West Bank, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem in the 1967 Middle East war and has maintained its control over these territories, where the Palestinians wish to establish their future state, despite international criticism.
The Gaza health authorities said four more people died on Sunday from famine and malnutrition, bringing the total to 440, including 147 children. It said Israeli strikes and gunfire have killed at least 65,283 people and injured 166,575 since Oct. 7, 2023. ■
