Minister Gila Gamliel: "Voluntary Emigration from Gaza Will Happen"

Minister Gila Gamliel addressed today, Tuesday, in an interview with 103FM, the decision of the Likud court to prohibit incumbent MKs from running in the districts: "In the past, ministers could not run in the districts. I think that those who were elected to be ministers should not run in the districts; one needs to receive the trust of all the registered members," the minister noted. "This is the decision that was made, and we need to move forward and promote the primaries."

Gamliel is not worried about her status in the party ahead of the upcoming primaries: "I did not intend to run in the districts; I have no reason to do so. I am strong and experienced enough in my movement. In my eyes, this is something that should be opened up to new members who want to get in."

"I don't think there is any resentment here. When you look at the big picture, there is a desire to refresh, and this has always happened in Likud. They always give an opportunity to the districts and to people who come from the field. David Bitan, Dudi Amsalem, Kahlon — they all came from this initial contest. The combination of this with seniority and experience will help Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu win this campaign, and it is not in the bag," added Minister Gamliel.

Minister Gamliel rejected the interpretation that this is a political loss for the Prime Minister: "It is a victory for the democracy that exists here in the Likud movement; it allows the registered members to come and determine the path. In this specific vote, the decision was made by a margin of a few votes. The registered members were truly deliberating. In the end, the court determined that this is what will be."

Gamliel also addressed the storm created by Defense Minister Israel Katz when he "fired" live on air Major General Avi Bluth: "I did not see that program, but I heard the Defense Minister. From his perspective, he is not saying anything that indicates a firing. These are not things the minister announced officially; these are things that were already previously discussed between him and the Chief of Staff. There is a storm in a teacup here over the desire to create headlines. I know Bluth's work. It is fine if they want to make command changes, as long as it is in agreement between the minister and the Chief of Staff."

Regarding developments in the Gaza Strip, the minister stated:

"70 percent of the territory in the strip is demilitarized, we cleaned all the tunnels from above and below, and it is under the absolute control of the IDF. We are eliminating every day those whose hand touched October 7."

She mentioned that her plan for the voluntary emigration of Palestinians from Gaza still exists: "I absolutely believe there will be voluntary emigration. We conducted a professional survey a month ago among Gazans inside the strip: out of 5,000 people asked, 4,000 want to leave."

Afterwards, when asked about the victory promised against Iran and reminded of her famous AI video, Gamliel replied: "I promise that we will yet walk in the streets of Tehran. I promise that it will happen." She estimated that the riots in Iran are destined to resume: "You don't know how shaky the situation is inside Iran — inflation is high and unemployment is more than 50%. The young people there have nothing to lose; it has worsened to extreme levels."