ISRAELI Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich faced a storm of international condemnation today after he suggested that causing the starvation of Gaza’s more than two million Palestinians “might be just and moral” until the hostages held by Hamas are released.

It is unclear why the far-right minister’s remarks to a conference in support of Jewish settlements on Monday were not reported sooner.

He told the event that Israel had no choice but to send humanitarian aid into Gaza.