Smotrich lashes out at Lapid: You're guilty we have hostages in Gaza

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich attacked Opposition head Yair Lapid, saying he was the one guilty of Israeli hostages still being held in Gaza.

Smotrich said that, "the man who time and time again (strengthens) Sinwar, the one who's responsible for the hostages being in Gaza is Lapid. He's again making political profit from a terrible tragedy."

Two days ago, Smotrich caused a stir when he claimed during an interview on Kan Reshet Bet that getting back the hostages wasn't the biggest goal of the war in Gaza. Asked if it was, he answered: "Why hold a competition? What is important now? Hamas must be destroyed. It is very important, but you must also understand that saying that we must get the hostages back "at any cost" is problematic. The abductees must be returned (by) pressuring Hamas."