Smotrich: We have to say the truth, returning the hostages is not the most important thing

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich says that bringing the hostages back from Gaza is not the most important goal of the government.

Speaking in an interview on Radio Galey Israel, the far-right minister says: “We have to say the truth, returning the hostages is not the most important thing.

“It is obviously a very important goal, but if you want to destroy Hamas so that there can’t be another October 7th, you need to understand that there can’t be a situation where Hamas remains in Gaza.”

The terror group, which is still holding 59 hostages, says it will return them in exchange for Israel ending the war and withdrawing from the Strip. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly said he is not willing to end the war until Hamas, which rules Gaza, is completely overthrown.