Netanyahu said to promise Smotrich return to war after Gaza truce to quell coalition threats

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has promised Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich in recent meetings that, following the proposed 60-day ceasefire with Hamas currently under discussion in Doha, Israel will resume its war against Hamas in Gaza, reports Channel 12.

“After the pause, we will transfer the population in the Strip southward and impose a siege [on northern Gaza],” Netanyahu reportedly told Smotrich, who is seeking guarantees from the premier that the war in Gaza will resume in full force after the ceasefire ends.

In closed-door meetings, Netanyahu framed Israel’s plan to separate the Gazan civilian population from Hamas and hold them in a strip of southern Gaza as a humanitarian necessity to allow the conflict to continue following the temporary truce, according to Channel 12.

Netanyahu assured the minister that he would follow through on the promise, pointing to the planning of last month’s conflict with Iran as the reason for failing to meet Smotrich’s prior expectations on destroying Hamas.

“Until now I’ve been busy with Iran — now I can make sure the military follows my instructions,” Channel 12 quotes the premier as telling Smotrich.

Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir have warned that they will withdraw from the government if any deal is agreed to that would end the war in Gaza with Hamas still in power. Both ministers have reportedly been summoned to meet with Netanyahu in recent days, as part of the ongoing efforts to reach a deal.