‘We need to continue tightening the noose around its neck and force it to agree to a complete surrender deal,' Bezalel Smotrich says on X
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich criticized the possibility of signing a partial hostage exchange deal with the Palestinian group Hamas, calling it “foolish.”
In a post Wednesday on X, Smotrich claimed that Hamas has been under tremendous pressure and distress in recent days due to a change in the aid distribution system and its loss of control over the population in Gaza.
“We need to continue tightening the noose around its neck and force it to agree to a complete surrender deal, with (the release of) all the hostages at once,” he said.
“It would be absurdly foolish to release the pressure now and sign a partial deal with it that would provide it oxygen and a lifeline and allow it to recover.”
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar responded indirectly, without naming Smotrich.
In his own post, Saar said Israel responded positively 11 days ago to a US proposal for the release of hostages but that Hamas has so far rejected the offer.
“However, as long as there is a chance to release the hostages, it should be pursued — this is the will of the overwhelming majority of the people in Israel. Action should be taken according to national interests, not based on political pressure and threats,” he added.
Earlier, Israel's public broadcaster KAN reported that Israeli officials involved in indirect negotiations with Hamas are speaking of a “positive development” regarding the possibility of reaching a ceasefire and prisoner exchange deal in Gaza.
The broadcaster quoted unnamed Israeli officials participating in the talks as saying that the coming days are “extremely critical.”
It also cited unnamed foreign sources as saying that if Israel shows flexibility on ending the war, the agreement could be signed tomorrow.
Statements from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office often come from anonymous sources distributed to the media.
Hamas has repeatedly offered to release Israeli captives “all at once” in exchange for ending the war, the withdrawal of Israeli troops, and the release of Palestinian prisoners.
Netanyahu, however, has resisted those terms, instead calling for the disarmament of Palestinian resistance factions and signaling plans to reoccupy Gaza.
Israel estimates that 58 hostages remain in Gaza, including 20 believed to be alive. Meanwhile, more than 10,100 Palestinians are being held in Israeli prisons under harsh conditions, including reports of torture, starvation and medical neglect, according to Palestinian and Israeli rights groups.
The Israeli opposition and families of the hostages have accused Netanyahu of prolonging the war to appease his far-right coalition partners and maintain power.
The Israeli army, rejecting international calls for a ceasefire, has pursued a brutal offensive against Gaza since October 2023, killing more than 54,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children.
Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war crimes against civilians in the enclave.
