Father of Fallen Soldier Confronts Finance Minister Smotrich at Gaza Envelope Housing Ceremony

A heated confrontation occurred during a cornerstone laying event for 1,000 new homes in the Gaza Envelope region, held at Kibbutz Ein Hashlosha on Monday. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich was the guest of honor at the ceremony, which was organized by the Jewish Agency alongside several Israeli government ministries and supported by donations from the Jewish diaspora.

Outside the event, dozens of protesters demonstrated against Smotrich's presence. During the ceremony, Eyal Ashel, father of Roni Ashel who was killed in the Nachal Oz command post on October 7, interrupted Smotrich's speech with sharp accusations. He blamed the minister for many hostages returning in coffins, saying, "You voted against us," and accused the government of causing an irreversible disaster.

Smotrich responded by expressing gratitude even to those angry with him, saying, "I love you, Eyal." However, Ashel cut him off, accusing him of failing to protect his daughter, who died in the command post fire, and declared, "You do not love me at all." Representatives from "Front of the Negev" and "On Behalf of the Envelope" condemned Smotrich's visit as a publicity stunt exploiting the destruction and recovery efforts, stating he cannot use taxpayers' money to buy forgiveness.

The housing project aims to expand communities in the Gaza Envelope and is led by the Jewish Agency in cooperation with the Negev, Galilee, and National Resilience Ministry, the Finance Ministry, the Takuma Administration, and the Ministry of Construction and Housing. It is funded in part by diaspora Jewish organizations including Keren HaYesod and North American Jewish Federations, as well as the Jack, Joseph, and Morton Mandel Foundation from Cleveland.