Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich threatens resignation over Gaza cease-fire
Bezalel Smotrich Israeli Finance Minister. (AFP Photo)
Far-right Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has threatened to resign from the coalition government if the ongoing war against Hamas in Gaza comes to an end.
Smotrich, leader of the Religious Zionism party, criticized the ceasefire agreement and voiced opposition to any potential halt in military operations.
“The only way to repair the damage and turn the deal into a tactical loss instead of a strategic defeat is to return to the fight. To ensure the destruction of Hamas, we must remain in the government,” Smotrich said.
Tensions escalate within Israeli government
Smotrich’s remarks come amid resignations by other hardline officials, including far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and members of his Jewish Power party, who left their posts following the government’s approval of the ceasefire deal.
The political rift highlights growing dissent within Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz reaffirmed Israel’s commitment to continuing its military acts, stating, “We will not stop the war until everyone returns home,” during a visit to an army facility near Gaza where the Israeli captives will be received.
“We will not stop the war until everyone returns home,” he says during a visit to an army facility on the Gaza border where released hostages will receive initial treatment.
“I came to make sure that the Israeli army is prepared to protect the communities and soldiers against any attack… even during the ceasefire,” Katz says.
Katz also vows that the military will stay in a buffer zone along the Gaza border and “will respond strongly to any violation and threat.”
Prisoner exchange underway amid ceasefire
The ceasefire agreement, mediated by Qatar, took effect Sunday at 11:15 a.m. local time (9:15 a.m. GMT) after a delay attributed to logistical issues. The deal includes a prisoner exchange and humanitarian aid delivery to Gaza.
Under the agreement:
- Three Israeli captives held by Hamas are set to be released today.
- Israel will free approximately 90 Palestinian prisoners, mostly minors and women, with 735 more to follow in later phases.
- Some detainees, particularly those accused of killing Israelis, will be deported to destinations reportedly including Qatar and Egypt.
The International Committee of the Red Cross is facilitating the exchange, coordinating the transfer of captives and detainees.
Red Cross begins process to receive captives: Reports
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has started the process of receiving the three captives held in the Gaza Strip, Israeli Channel 12 reported.
Separately, an official involved in the operation told Reuters that the ICRC team in Gaza is on the way to collect the captives.
According to reports, the Red Cross is expected to take the women to a special army unit in Gaza. From there, they are to be taken to a military facility in Israel near Gaza for initial health examinations before they are taken to a hospital, where they will meet their families.
Humanitarian efforts and ceasefire stability
Majed al-Ansari, a spokesperson for Qatar’s Foreign Ministry, acknowledged logistical challenges but expressed confidence in the success of the exchange. “The operations room of the mediators is working to ensure the exchange today happens seamlessly,” he said.
The agreement also allows for the return of displaced Palestinians to their homes in Gaza, where over 47,000 have been killed and 110,700 injured since the conflict began on Oct. 7, 2023, according to health officials in Gaza.
