Smotrich says Israel should ‘annex’ territory it occupies in Gaza and Lebanon

Smotrich says Israel should ‘annex’ territory it occupies in Gaza and Lebanon Speaking on a podcast, far-right finance minister Bezalel Smotrich said Israel should annex territory it currently occupies in Gaza and Lebanon in order to "make them truly feel the cost of their mistake and the cost of their defeat". "We need to annex at least up to the lines we’re currently holding. And if Hezbollah attacks again, then all the way to Beirut. And if they attack, then even beyond that," he said. “We need to annex at least up to the lines we’re currently holding. And if Hezbollah attacks again, then all the way to Beirut." Finance minister Bezalel Smotrich said Israel should annex land it occupies in Gaza and Lebanon to “make them truly feel the cost of their mistake." https://t.co/a7kIEPM40W — Middle East Eye (@MiddleEastEye) October 20, 2026