From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, September 30, 2025
Smotrich says Gaza plan ‘will end in tears,’ slams Israel’s ‘tragic’ leadership failures, but does not say he will oppose it
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleSam Sokol is a former political correspondent at The Times of Israel. He was previously a reporter for the Jerusalem Post, Jewish Telegraphic Agency and Haaretz. He is the author of "Putin’s Hybrid War and the Jews"
Weighing in for the first time since it was officially unveiled yesterday, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a senior coalition partner of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, criticizes a US plan to end the war in Gaza but does not outright say he will oppose or attempt to torpedo it.
Along with National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, Smotrich is one of two far-right leaders whose reaction to the proposal is being closely watched, due to their potential sway over Netanyahu, who backed the plan in Washington DC Monday.
In a lengthy post on X, Smotrich, who heads the hardline Religious Zionism party, calls celebrations over the plan premature, criticizing the scheme as giving up “real achievements on the ground for political illusions… a diplomatic bear hug and glittering ceremonies.”
He calls it, “A tragic case of leadership abstaining from any vision,” in apparent reference to Netanyahu’s failure to secure Smotrich’s declared goals of resettling Gaza and annexing the West Bank.
Allowing a Palestinian security force into Gaza and allowing Qatar to become a “central player” marks a “historic missed opportunity to finally break free from the shackles of Oslo, a resounding diplomatic failure, closing our eyes and turning our backs on all the lessons of October 7.”
“In my estimation, this too will end in tears,” he writes.
He expresses hopes that perhaps Hamas’s “obstinacy will once again save us from ourselves.”
“[Given] Prime Minister Netanyahu’s initial unwillingness to conquer Gaza… is this the maximum that can be achieved right now?” he asks.
“These are good questions. We will consult, consider, and decide, with God’s help. But the celebrations since yesterday are simply absurd,” he adds.
Smotrich said yesterday that he had informed Netanyahu of his party’s “red lines” ahead of the premier’s meeting with Trump to discuss the plan.
Smotrich and Ben Gvir have opposed previous proposals to end the war, threatening to bring down the government over the issue. Opposition parties have offered in the past to provide Netanyahu a safety net of support to avoid being forced to rely on the far-right leaders should they try to block a deal. Critics have accused Netanyahu of putting the continued support of his political allies ahead of freeing hostages remaining in Gaza.
The Times of Israel Community.