National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir: "It is time to use the big stick against Hamas"
Israel's far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has suggested that U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who is on a visit to the Middle East, should "use the big stick."
AA
In a statement on his social media account, Ben-Gvir said, "Mr. Secretary Blinken, this is not the time to speak softly with Hamas; it is time to use the big stick."
Ben-Gvir's remarks, which reference U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt's quote, "Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far," were interpreted by social media users as a call to "abandon diplomacy" and were met with backlash.
"WE HAVE PARTNERS WHO WILL HELP US"
In a post on the X social media platform on January 1, Israeli far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir had stated regarding the resettlement of Palestinians who would emigrate, "We have partners in the world who will help us."
In his speech on Israel's KAN Bet Radio on January 7, Ben-Gvir had argued that he saw the displacement of Palestinians in Gaza as a solution and that they should establish new settlements in the region.