Bezalel Smotrich: Crowds at terrorist release ceremony must be eliminated 

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich responded to the Hamas-led release ceremony held before hostages were handed over to the Red Cross, condemning the celebrations as a display of hatred and extremism.

"At this time, we are all deeply moved by the return of Arbel, Agam, and Gadi. Despite serious concerns about the deal’s consequences, there isn’t a single person in Israel whose heart isn’t filled with boundless joy at seeing them back home," Smotrich said.

Referring to the footage of the ceremony in Gaza, he declared: "These are bloodthirsty predators fueled by deep-seated hatred for Israel. If we don’t eliminate them, they will continue to threaten and eliminate us."

He concluded: "We cherish life and peace, and we cannot allow our children to grow up in a reality where such monsters live nearby and endanger them. We must keep fighting until Hamas is completely destroyed."

Earlier, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also condemned the scenes from Gaza.

"I view the shocking images during our hostages' release with extreme severity. It's yet another testament to the unimaginable cruelty of the terrorist organization Hamas," Netanyahu stated.

He added: "I demand that mediators ensure such horrific scenes are never repeated and that our hostages’ safety is guaranteed. Anyone who dares harm our hostages will face the consequences."

Arutz 7 contributed to this article.