Netanyahu sanctions minister over 'nuclear statement'

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has suspended Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu from government meetings indefinitely, the prime minister's office said, citing the Times of Israel.

Earlier, Amihai Eliyahu stated that dropping an atomic bomb on the Gaza Strip was "one of the possibilities" for the development of the conflict. Asked in an interview with the Kol Berama radio station whether an atomic bomb should be dropped on the enclave, Minister Eliyahu replied that "that is one of the possibilities." The politician also expressed his opposition to allowing any humanitarian aid into Gaza, saying that Israel will not transfer humanitarian aid to the "Nazis" and "there is no such thing as uninvolved civilians in Gaza."

According to the post, later on the "X" social network, the minister tried to refute his words and wrote that it is clear to any sane person that the remark about the atomic bomb is metaphorical.

Israeli politicians have already condemned such a statement. The prime minister's office said on social media that Eliyahu's remarks were "false" and Israel and its army were acting in accordance with international law to avoid harming innocent people. In addition, Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid criticized the minister's statements and called on Netanyahu to fire Eliyahu immediately. /BGNES