The Prime Minister's Office distanced the Israeli government from statements made by Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu (Otzma Yehudit) on Thursday in a statement posted on X/Twitter that evening.
"Minister Amichai Eliyahu does not speak for the government I lead. He is not a member of the Security Cabinet that determines the conduct of the war.
"His views are his own. He opposed the hostage release agreement and chose to resign. This government’s policy is clear and united. His statements do not represent it,' the statement concluded.
Eliyahu had said earlier in an interview that "The government is rushing to erase Gaza, and thank God we are erasing this evil. All of Gaza will be Jewish.”
He added, "We don't need to be concerned about hunger in the Strip. We have completely lost our minds."
In a tense phone call in the late hours of Thursday night, Israel's Ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter urged the minister to retract his statements, saying, "They harm our relations with supporters in the White House, Congress, the Senate, and Christian communities in the US."
According to a source with knowledge, the ambassador further stated during the heated conversation, which was conducted at times in a heated tone, that the remarks were inaccurate: "Many people are working day and night to ensure that Gaza's residents receive food and humanitarian aid."
Eliyahu's statements do not reflect policy of Netanyahu, gov't
Ambassador Leiter tweeted on X that Eliyahu's statements do not reflect the policy of Netanyahu and his government. "The exact opposite is true", the Ambassador tweeted. "Despite the enormous difficulties of providing humanitarian aid to the non-combatant population of Gaza, we have done so with determination and commitment. The PM has stated that, 'There will be no starvation in Gaza. Period.'"
Leiter added that the quotes attributed to Eliyahu are wrong, foolish, and totally unrepresentative of the government and people of Israel. "Our objective is, and will remain, the total defeat of Hamas, which serves death and destruction, murder and mayhem, on Israelis and Gazans, while providing humanitarian assistance to non-combatant Gazans".