Smotrich: Potential deal is ‘serious error’ that neither meets war aims nor brings all hostages home

Far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich comes out against the potential ceasefire-hostage deal, calling it a “serious error.”

“It’s a serious error that neither serves the goals and interests of the State of Israel in the war, nor [brings] the return of the hostages, because in the end it is a partial deal,” he tells the Haredi radio station Kol Barama, according to the Ynet news site.

“Hamas is at its lowest point since the beginning of the war, and this is not the time to give it a lifeline,” he says, adding that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “knows what our red lines are; we [his Religious Zionism party] have a great influence over the government’s moves.”

According to reports, Hamas is demanding a permanent end to the war along with the withdrawal of the IDF from Gaza, while Israel is seeking a temporary pause, during which some of the hostages would be released, followed by a resumption of its fighting in order to finish dismantling Hamas’s military and governing capabilities.

Relatives of hostages and others have spoken out against the prospect of a phased deal, which could fall apart before all hostages are let go.