Smotrich’s settlement plans come as the international spotlight on Israel intensifies, with growing calls for a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war amid mass concerns over the ongoing malnutrition crisis in Gaza and backlash over Netanyahu’s plan to fully occupy the Gaza Strip.

Israel Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich boasted that the construction could thwart Palestinian statehood plans

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who has advocated for the construction of 3,000 housing units in the E1 settlement, said it would 'bury' the possibility of a Palestinian state.