Smotrich: Prisoner deal with Hamas is a big mistake and I’ll topple Netanyahu’s government
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich threatened to bring down the government in the event of moving to implement the second phase of the ceasefire agreement with Gaza, which includes stopping the war, while he calls for continuing it with the aim of eliminating Hamas once and for all.
During an interview with Kan Radio, Smotrich said in statements described by the Israeli media as controversial that the prisoner exchange deal with Hamas was a big mistake, and considered what happened to be a message that whoever wants to subjugate Israel does not need missiles or a nuclear program.
Smotrich, who voted against the deal in the cabinet, pointed out that the current deal is the same one that was offered last July, expressing his fears about the return of Hamas leaders to northern Gaza, saying, “Nothing prevents Mohammed Sinwar from returning”.
He also harshly criticized Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi, describing his policies as a progressive leftist trend, and stressing that “Hamas cannot be defeated without taking full control of Gaza”.
Regarding the period before the war, Smotrich acknowledged his responsibility for not changing the army’s policy during the ten months preceding the war, stressing that he should have brought down the government earlier, due to its “failure to deter Hamas”.
On Sunday, the Israeli Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben-Gvir, announced his resignation from Benjamin Netanyahu’s government in protest against the ceasefire agreement in Gaza, which he described as shameful.
