On the big stage of international politics, there are occasionally jaw-dropping remarks that jump out, and recently a politician in Israel stunned the world because of a highly controversial remark. Here's a behind-the-scenes look at the global uproar sparked by a finance minister.
Back in June 2023, Israel's Finance Minister Smotrih suddenly made a bold move when he decided to withhold $35 million in tax revenues from the Palestinian National Authority (Fatah) without Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's knowledge, citing the transfer of the money to the families of the so-called "detainees".
In a television interview, when asked how to ensure that humanitarian aid reaches Gaza safely, Smotrich not only did not give a humane answer, but instead made a startling remark: "The root cause of the delay in the fighting in Gaza is that aid has fattened Hamas, so we should take full control of aid until our hostages are released."
This isn't the first time Smotricht has made headlines for his extreme rhetoric. Like Minister of National Security Ben-Gvir, he is a "living treasure" in Israel's political arena and can often make some laughable news. But this time, Smotrich's remarks were not just news, but a serious topic about life and death.
Smotrich's remark not only raised deep questions about Israel's humanitarian position in the international community, but also shocked and disturbed many Israel people. What kind of political environment and personal convictions shape such cold and ruthless rhetoric? In the view of the Minister of Finance, political strategy seems to take precedence over the basic right of human beings to exist.