In closed meeting, Smotrich said to accuse Netanyahu of betraying fallen troops with new plans for IDF withdrawal during Gaza truce

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich is said to be furious that Israeli negotiators submitted new maps yesterday depicting the partial withdrawal of troops during a 60-day ceasefire, after both Hamas and the US rejected Israel’s initial vision for troop deployment during the truce.

Sources directly familiar with the matter said yesterday that upon receiving Israel’s initial troop-deployment map, US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff told Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer that it was unacceptable and would doom the negotiations.

Witkoff further warned that any map “resembling the [Finance Minister Bezalel] Smotrich plan” — leaving extensive, continuous Israeli control of Gaza — was a “no go” for the Trump administration.

According to a transcript circulated by Hebrew media, Smotrich slammed Israel’s apparent new willingness to be flexible on the terms of the IDF’s withdrawal during a closed meeting this morning, and lambasted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for turning his back on the families of fallen soldiers.

“If the reports about the prime minister’s willingness to withdraw from areas that were occupied by our fighters are great cost as part of a hostage deal are true, it would be a serious betrayal of the soldiers and families who sacrificed what was dearest to them, and a violation of the commitment that was made to them,” he said.

Any plan that involves Israel pulling troops from areas they currently control would be “an illogical and immoral slap to the face,” he added.

The far-right Religious Zionism leader has reportedly canceled most of his meetings today and will instead hold consultations on the matter.