Amidst mounting international scrutiny, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich have hinted at the possibility of establishing new Jewish settlements in the Gaza Strip. After nearly three years of conflict, Smotrich, who conditions his coalition participation on increased control over Israel's settlement enterprise, has revealed plans for three settlements in northern Gaza. Netanyahu, while evasive, did not rule out the prospect when questioned. Such a move would be illegal under international law and could potentially amount to ethnic cleansing, given that Israel's current settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem are already considered illegal. The proposed settlements would allegedly serve as a buffer between Israel and Gaza, with proponents viewing the largely destroyed northern Gaza City area as an opportunity for expansion. The Israeli public, particularly its far-right elements, has shown support for such plans, despite criticism from international jurists who view this as incitement to genocide. The degree of actual preparation for these settlements is unclear, with Israel having deliberately destroyed much of the infrastructure in Gaza during its conflict. As Israel approaches elections, politicians like Smotrich and Netanyahu may be leveraging this issue to garner support from their base. However, the success of such a move remains questionable given international opposition and potential electoral consequences.