Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has said that once the hostages are returned from Gaza, Israel should move to “destroy” Hamas. According to Arab media reports, Smotrich told reporters that immediately after securing the release of the hostages, the Israeli state must pursue the complete elimination of Hamas’s operational capacity and a thorough disarmament of Gaza so that the group no longer poses a threat to Israel.
Smotrich also declared that he would not vote in favor of any ceasefire with Hamas, insisting that military action should continue until the organization is irreversibly weakened. His remarks come amid international efforts to broker a phased peace framework for Gaza.
Earlier, Israel and Hamas reportedly agreed on the first phase of a U.S.-proposed Gaza ceasefire plan, which U.S. President Donald Trump said would include the prompt release of all hostages and a phased Israeli military withdrawal to previously negotiated lines. Trump announced the developments on social media and framed the agreement as a step towards de-escalation.
Smotrich’s statements underscore the deep divisions within Israeli politics over how to secure long-term safety: while diplomatic channels push for a ceasefire and humanitarian access, hardline voices in the government are calling for continued military pressure to eliminate Hamas as a future threat. International observers warn that any return to large-scale hostilities could jeopardize fragile negotiations and further exacerbate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
