By Kaamil Ahmed

JERUSALEM

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday renewed efforts to expel families of suspected Palestinian attackers to the blockaded Gaza Strip by asking for the attorney general's support.

A statement from Netanyahu’s office said he asked Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit to check the legality of the controversial option.

"Expelling family members of Palestinian terrorists who aided attacks to Gaza will lead to a significant decrease in terrorist attacks," Netanyahu said.

A State Department spokesman said the U.S. is concerned about the proposal.

"In our view, this kind of step would raise, I guess, similar concerns to those we have about punitive home demolition, which we believe only exacerbate tensions on the ground, and are counterproductive," he said, using only the word 'home demolition' and not deportation or expulsion.

On Sunday, Mandelblit responded to right-wing politicians advocating for the policy by saying it would be illegal under both Israeli and international law.

The Times of Israel reported that the policy has been discussed in Cabinet meetings in relation to five months of violence that has killed 31 Israelis or foreigners and 189 Palestinians, many of whom were shot dead during alleged attacks.

The website quoted a source as saying Mandelblit's opposition has been the main barrier to the policy.