Bezalel Smotrich : Israel will return to whole of Gaza , should erase Oslo Accords

What Happened

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich declared at the 2026 Pulse of Israel Conference that Israel will ‘return to the whole of Gaza in a big way,’ beyond re-establishing the Gush Katif settlement bloc removed in 2005. He said plans for three settlements in northern Gaza have been finalized and await Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's approval. Smotrich also called for ‘erasing’ the Oslo Accords, asserting there is no difference between Areas A, B, and C of the West Bank and that full Israeli control is a security necessity after the October 7 attack. The IDF reportedly has operational control of about 70% of the Gaza Strip, and a security source told Walla that control may expand. These settlement ambitions conflict with the US-backed National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG) plan. Hamas spokesperson told Al Jazeera the group will transfer power to the NCAG and dissolve its government, though diplomatic sources told The Jerusalem Post that Hamas is creating obstacles in talks with the US-backed Board of Peace, including backtracking on agreements and making new demands.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

Smotrich’s statements signal a far-right push within Israel’s government toward formal annexation and settlement of Gaza, directly contradicting international efforts (led by the US) to install a Palestinian administrative body. This deepens the rift over postwar governance and threatens to collapse diplomatic frameworks, while escalating tensions with Palestinians and the broader region. The call to erase the Oslo Accords challenges the foundational architecture of the peace process and could provoke unrest in the West Bank.

Watch For

Monitor Netanyahu’s response to Smotrich’s settlement plans and any green light for construction. Track IDF operational expansions and changes to territorial control. Watch for Hamas’s actual transfer of power to the NCAG versus continued obstruction; diplomatic reactions from the US, Egypt, and Qatar; and potential Palestinian or international legal challenges to settlement moves.