Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich suggests that Israel should occupy Gaza and encourage half of the Strip's population to emigrate within two years. Critics argue that this policy is a euphemism for forced displacement. Smotrich claims that occupying Gaza is necessary for the security of Israel and that the only way to defeat Hamas is to replace its governing capabilities. He also suggests that the strategy of encouraging emigration can be replicated in the West Bank. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has denied intentions to resettle the Strip, but critics fear that the IDF's fortification of certain areas indicates a potential long-term stay.