Far-right Israeli minister Smotrich calls for US-led centre for Gaza to be shuttered

The far-right and extremist Israeli finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday to shut a US-led multinational coordinating centre that supports US President Donald Trump's plan to end the Gaza war.

Washington established the Civil Military Coordination Centre (CMCC) last October as a centre for civilian and military personnel from other countries to work alongside US and Israeli officials on post-war Gaza planning.

"The time has come to dismantle the headquarters in Kiryat Gat," said Smotrich, in remarks shared by his office to the media, referring to the Israeli city northeast of Gaza where the centre is based.

The Israeli prime minister's office, the US State Department, and the US military's Central Command did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the remarks.

Smotrich also said that Britain, Egypt, and other countries that are "hostile to Israel and undermine its security" should be removed from the CMCC. The British and Egyptian foreign ministries did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The Central Command in December said that 60 countries and organisations were represented at the centre. The CMCC has also been tasked with facilitating humanitarian aid entering Gaza.

The US-led CMCC was established after Trump announced his 20-point plan to end the war. Germany, France, and Canada are also among the countries that have sent personnel there.

'Either us or them'

Smotrich, speaking at an event marking the establishment of a new illegal settlement in the occupied West Bank, said that Hamas should be given a "very short" ultimatum to disarm and go into exile, and once that ultimatum expires, the military should storm Gaza with "full force" to destroy the group.

The minister has long been known for his inflammatory and racist remarks againt Palestinians and Arabs, and has pushed for discriminatory policies, including the death penalty law. 

"Mr. Prime Minister, it's either us or them. Either full Israeli control, the destruction of Hamas, and the continued long-term suppression of terrorism, encouragement of the enemy's emigration outward and permanent Israeli settlement," Smotrich was quoted as saying.

The plan, announced by Trump in September, states that members of Hamas who commit to peaceful coexistence and to decommission their weapons will be given amnesty. Those who want to leave Gaza will be given safe passage to other countries.

The White House last week announced that the president's plan to end the war was moving to the second phase, which would include the demilitarisation and reconstruction of Gaza.

Under the initial phase of the plan, Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire in Gaza that went into effect in October.

Hamas also released the remaining living Israeli captives that had been held in Gaza since October 2023. The remains of all but one deceased captive have been handed over as well.

Since the ceasefire started, Israel has repeatedly carried out air strikes in Gaza, despite one of the terms of the truce being cessation of hostilities. Over 460 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since the ceasefire came into effect.