Jerusalem - Israel's Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has urged the government to proceed with the annexation of parts of the Gaza Strip in response to Hamas's continued refusal to disarm.

This proposal was unveiled during a press conference in Jerusalem, where Smotrich outlined his strategy to 'win in Gaza by the end of the year.'

Under this plan, Hamas would be issued an ultimatum to surrender and release all hostages currently being held in the territory.

Should Hamas refuse, Israel would gradually annex sections of Gaza over a four-week period, effectively bringing the majority of the region under full Israeli control.

Palestinians residing within these areas would first be displaced southward, followed by Israel imposing a siege on the northern and central regions to neutralize any remaining resistance.

Smotrich is confident that this process can be completed within three to four months.

His statements come amidst an ongoing Israeli military operation in Gaza, aimed at seizing control of the city - the largest in the territory.

Notably, the majority of Gaza's population, exceeding two million people, has been displaced at least once during the conflict.

In response to Smotrich's proposal, Hamas condemned it as an 'open endorsement of forced displacement and ethnic cleansing.'

Smotrich is known for his support for re-establishing settlements in the Gaza Strip - a region from which Israel withdrew its military and settlers in 2005.

Furthermore, he recently authorized a major settlement project in the occupied West Bank, which critics argue threatens the territorial integrity of any potential Palestinian state.

Smotrich views this project as a means to 'bury the idea of a Palestinian state.'

This recent development highlights the ongoing tensions between Israel and Hamas, as well as the broader geopolitical implications for the region.