analysisTwo powerful Israeli men aren't hiding their true Gaza plan. Biden shunned them, but they're back in Trump's circlesBy Brad Ryan in Washington DCTopic:World Politics2h ago2 hours agoSat 10 May 2025 at 12:30amItamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich have influential roles in Israel's government. (AFP/Reuters)abc.net.au/news/donald-trump-gaza-smotrich-ben-gvir/105277242Link copiedShareShare articleA parade of leaders from foreign governments has made its way through Washington since Donald Trump resumed the presidency.Some — like Canada's Mark Carney, who told Trump his country wasn't for sale — probably left feeling like they'd achieved something important.Others — like Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who told Trump his country wasn't for giving away — may have regretted coming to DC.But not all the visits have made big news, particularly those taking place away from the Oval Office.One early visitor who got relatively little attention was the controversial figure of far-right Israeli politics, Bezalel Smotrich, whose ultranationalist bloc is helping Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu retain power.Smotrich lives in one of the West Bank settlements that are widely deemed illegal under international law. He's previously sparked outrage by calling for a Palestinian town to be erased and saying "there's no such thing" as Palestinian people, and he once told Arabic members of Israel's Parliament: "You’re here by mistake, it's a mistake that [Israel's first Prime Minister] Ben-Gurion didn't finish the job and didn't throw you out in 1948."Joe Biden considered Smotrich so extreme, his administration wouldn't deal with him. Smotrich accused Biden of pushing an "antisemitic lie" when he put sanctions on Israeli settlers accused of killing Palestinians and torching their homes and farms.But in March, the US welcomed Smotrich. He and his American counterpart, Scott Bessent, had a "highly impactful" meeting and promised "a significant step-up" in ties.Bezalel Smotrich and Scott Bessent pledged to collaborate more after meeting in March. (Supplied: US Treasury)It's representative of how the US, under Trump, is now embracing the more extreme elements of the Israeli government — elements that even Biden, a self-proclaimed Zionist who was criticised for unconditionally providing bombs to Israel, couldn't stomach.A guest at Trump's Mar-a-LagoAlongside Smotrich, another Israeli ultranationalist with influence in Netanyahu's government is Itamar Ben-Gvir.Ben-Gvir, the national security minister, is a proponent of the siege that's been stopping food and medicine from entering Gaza for more than two months. He's also called for food warehouses in Gaza to be bombed, he says to put more pressure on Hamas.Like Smotrich, Ben-Gvir was boycotted by Biden.But things have changed for him too.Last month, he was a guest at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. Again, the visit attracted relatively little attention.Trump wasn't there, but Ben-Gvir said in a tweet that he met other senior Republican Party officials, and that they supported his proposal to bomb Gaza's food stores. (The US State Department later said such an idea would contradict its policy to provide aid in Gaza.)Loading Twitter contentWhen Smotrich was asked about Ben-Gvir's proposal this week, he said: "I do not argue with Minister Ben-Gvir morally, but practically, the world will not let us starve or thirst 2 million people in Gaza."But food supplies are already running out.In April, the World Food Program said its food stocks were all gone. And this week, World Central Kitchen — the aid group run by Washington celebrity chef José Andrés — said it was shutting its depleted soup kitchens and Gaza's last working bakery, which had run out of flour.The group said it had been serving 133,000 meals a day, but its food and cooking fuel has been stuck at the border for weeks and there's none left.Loading Twitter content'Despairing' by designAs Trump prepares to travel to the Middle East next week – though probably not to Israel — there's talk of allowing some food into Gaza."People are starving," Donald Trump said when asked about the situation this week. "And we're going to help them get some food."It's been reported that private contractors could be used to distribute future aid to prevent theft by Hamas, which Israel blames for food shortages in Gaza. "Hamas is the one starving them," Israeli military spokesperson Effie Defrin said in a televised address this week.State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said on Thursday, local time: "We are steps away from that solution, from being able to deliver the aid and the food."The solution, though, appears to be wrapped up in Israel's newly announced plan to intensify the bombardment of Gaza — possibly completely flattening it — and occupy it indefinitely. That plan, called "Gideon's Chariots", is due to go ahead if no hostage-release and ceasefire deal is reached before Trump concludes his Middle East tour on March 15.Israel cut off deliveries of food and medicine into Gaza months ago, and now supplies are running out. (ABC News)Israel's military says it would involve "the movement of the majority of the Gaza Strip's population — in order to protect them in a Hamas-free zone".But Smotrich, a member of the cabinet that approved the plan, laid out the horror of it.He said Palestinians would be "concentrated" into a small strip of land near the Egyptian border, and: "They will be totally despairing, understanding that there is no hope and nothing to look for in Gaza, and will be looking for relocation to begin a new life in other places."The UN, aid groups and some western allies are appalled. "We strongly oppose the expansion of Israel’s operations," the UK’s Middle East minister, Hamish Falconer, said.There's outrage in the US, too, including from officials in previous administrations. "What we are looking at is the slow-motion ethnic cleansing of Gaza," said podcaster Ben Rhodes, who was deputy national security advisor to Barack Obama. "It's just an absolute calamity in that there's just nothing stopping it."But it's not inconsistent with the ideas Trump has floated for the region, such as the "clean out" of Gaza he suggested earlier this year, and his proposal to take it over and turn it into the "Riviera of the Middle East".War crime charges pendingThe international community roundly rejected Trump's plan, illegal under international law, and Trump has said little about it since he first mentioned it.Now it appears similar ideas — and the wishes of Israel's far-right — are manifesting in formalised Israeli policy.Children queue for hours to collect soup every day. (ABC News)The question of whether Israel's actions constitute the international crime of genocide is still before the World Court.Israel is fighting the allegation, arguing it's been acting in legitimate self-defence after the October 7 attacks that left more than 1,200 dead.Netanyahu is also still wanted for arrest by the International Criminal Court for war crimes and crimes against humanity, including using starvation as a method of warfare. The Israeli PM has called the allegations absurd and false, and labelled the warrant antisemitic. Biden, as president, criticised the court. Trump then sanctioned it.But the prolonged blockage on food and aid is lending more weight to the charges. And so are the statements of the powerful ultranationalists in Netanyahu's government — men who were once shunned by the US but are now welcome guests under Trump.LoadingPosted 2h ago2 hours agoSat 10 May 2025 at 12:30am, updated 8m ago8 minutes agoSat 10 May 2025 at 2:23amShare optionsCopy linkFacebookX (formerly Twitter)Top Stories'Third party' vote looks set to beat CoalitionTopic:ElectionsPhoto shows A triangular chart showing an example of some electorates shifting from LNP to 'Other candidates' at the 2025 federal electionLabor win turns sour as the bloody realpolitik takes centre stageLAnalysis by Laura TinglePhoto shows Two men in orange hi vis vest, with one holding up a dollar coinA girl's police interview brings 'truth' into focus during mushroom murder trialTopic:CourtsPhoto shows A digital drawing of Erin Patterson wearing a pink shirtPakistan launches retaliatory strikes against India as conflict intensifiesTopic:Unrest, Conflict and WarPhoto shows India intercepts objects in the sky in JammuBanned abroad, booming at home: Inside Australia's coral industryTopic:Oceans and ReefsPhoto shows A close-up of Andre's hands, tinged blue under a UV light, holding a neon yellow piece of coral.Related storiesOutside Gaza sits 116,000 tonnes of food as people inside run outTopic:WarPhoto shows An old lady sits, leaning on a wall as she holds an empty metal pot.Australia joins demands for investigation into killing of Palestinian medicsTopic:Unrest, Conflict and WarPhoto shows Hundreds of people stand outside looking toward three bodies which have been wrapped in a white and red clothThis plan would end the Israel-Palestine conflict, but Israel doesn't like itEAnalysis by Eric TlozekWith a pro-Israel potshot from a White House podium, Biden took a leaf from Trump's bookBAnalysis by Brad RyanPhoto shows Joe Biden speaks at a microphone with an American flag behind him.Related topicsIsraelOccupied Palestinian TerritoriesUnited StatesWarWorld PoliticsTop Stories'Third party' vote looks set to beat CoalitionTopic:ElectionsPhoto shows A triangular chart showing an example of some electorates shifting from LNP to 'Other candidates' at the 2025 federal electionLabor win turns sour as the bloody realpolitik takes centre stageLAnalysis by Laura TingleA girl's police interview brings 'truth' into focus during mushroom murder trialTopic:CourtsPakistan launches retaliatory strikes against India as conflict intensifiesTopic:Unrest, Conflict and WarBanned abroad, booming at home: Inside Australia's coral industryTopic:Oceans and ReefsJust InAustralian beef exports surge during Trump's tariff warTopic:Beef Cattle Farming8m ago8 minutes agoSat 10 May 2025 at 2:23amLady Gaga at Coachella? This meme says it may be a recession indicatorTopic:Economic Trends and Indicators18m ago18 minutes agoSat 10 May 2025 at 2:13amAustralian cardinal Mykola Bychok makes first appearance after conclaveTopic:Religious Leaders23m ago23 minutes agoSat 10 May 2025 at 2:08amPakistan launches retaliatory strikes against India as conflict intensifiesTopic:Unrest, Conflict and War35m ago35 minutes agoSat 10 May 2025 at 1:56amMore Just InBack to top