Israel's Ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter, published an unusual disavowal of statements made by Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu from Jewish Power party, who said that "Gaza is being erased, and will become Jewish." Among other things, he condemned Eliyahu's claims that the Israeli government "is rushing toward the destruction of Gaza," as well as the statement that "we don't need to worry about hunger in the Strip." According to Leiter, "The quotes attributed to Minister Eliyahu are wrong, stupid and do not at all represent the government of Israel and the people of Israel."