Finance Minister and Religious Zionism party leader Bezalel Smotrich condemned the "bad" hostage deal today (Monday) at a meeting of his Knesset faction and also welcomed President Donald Trump's idea of transferring 1.5 million Gazans to Egypt and Jordan "temporarily or permanently."
Smotrich reiterated in his statement that "the images of tens of thousands of Gazans returning to the northern Strip and the presence of armed Hamas members moving around in white Toyotas in the area are evidence of part of the heavy and terrible price Israel is paying in this bad deal.
"Hamas's heavy pressure to open the Netzarim route demonstrates how, as I warned for months, Israel has given up the most important pressure points and achievements in the war for a partial deal that leaves dozens of hostages behind and does not fulfill the war's objectives: destroying Hamas's military and civilian force and ensuring Gaza will no longer pose a threat to the State of Israel.
"This is why we oppose the deal and announced that after the first phase, we will insist that Israel returns to war in a completely different way that will bring decisive victory in the war. I say to the heroic fighters, reservists and their families, to the wounded, to the bereaved families who paid the highest price, your effort and sacrifice was not in vain. We have not fled, not given up, and will not despair until we achieve victory."
The Religious Zionism leader then noted the opportunity presented by the resignation of IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi, saying that "the Chief of Staff's resignation and the prompt appointment of a new Chief of Staff are a good start to changing the way of fighting after the first phase of the deal, and we will ensure that the work is completed and that the IDF returns to fight until Hamas is destroyed militarily and civilly and all hostages are returned.
"Now there is an obligation to appoint an offensive Chief of Staff who will fully stand, without wavering and without hesitation, in the clear mission that will be defined for him by the political echelon - conquering Gaza and preventing Hamas's control of humanitarian aid to defeat Hamas and win the war."
Finally, Smotrich expressed his wholehearted support for President Donald Trump's idea of moving 1.5 million displaced Gazans to Egypt and Jordan until the Gaza Strip can be rebuilt:
"I heard yesterday President Trump's statements about Arab countries needing to absorb one and a half million refugees from Gaza. After years of politicians trying to impose their fantasies on reality, finally a US President recognizes reality - Gaza is a swamp of terror that produces suffering both for Israeli citizens and Gaza residents themselves.
"For years, Arab countries have preserved this problem as a weapon against the State of Israel, and there is no doubt that in the long term, encouraging emigration is the only solution that will bring peace and security to Israeli residents and also ease the suffering of Arab Gaza residents.
"I am working with the Prime Minister and Cabinet to prepare an operational plan and ensure that this vision of President Trump is implemented in reality. There's no need to get excited about Egypt and Jordan's weak opposition to the plan; we saw yesterday how Trump led a move against Colombia to expel migrants despite its opposition - when he wants something, it happens."
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