In a radio interview on Binyamini and Guetta on Kan Reshet Bet Radio, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich referred to the ongoing negotiations for the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas and said this wasn't the most important aspect of the war.
The minister was asked whether the return of the abductees was the most important point in the war and replied: "No, it is not the most important thing. Why make a competition out of it? What is important now? Hamas must be destroyed. It is very important, but you also understand that saying that "we must bring the hostages back at any cost" is a problem. The abductees need to be returned and pressure needs to be placed on Hamas (to do so)."
Smotrich also addressed the question of whether Israel knows Sinwar's whereabouts and said: "We know, okay? We will get to him. We will eliminate him, we will eliminate Mohammed Deif, we will eliminate others. The war will not end until this terrible group is not left alive. The army is investing a lot in this."