Betsalel Smotrich, Israel’s Finance Minister, has expressed a loss of confidence in prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s ability to lead the Israeli army to victory in the Gaza conflict, according to the English section of webangah News Agency, citing Al Jazeera via Mehr News Agency.
Smotrich criticized the Israeli security cabinet’s resolution to occupy Gaza with the stated aim of forcing Hamas back to negotiations, calling it a foolish and irrational move.
The far-right minister warned that sending thousands of troops into Gaza endangers soldiers’ lives and imposes significant diplomatic and international costs on israel. He argued these actions serve only to pressure Hamas into releasing Israeli prisoners – a strategy he deemed both morally wrong and illogical.
He stated that he cannot support this decision and reiterated his lost trust in Netanyahu’s capability as commander-in-chief to carry out such an operation successfully.
smotrich made these remarks amid opposition within Israel against plans for a renewed occupation of Gaza, approved by the cabinet two days ago. Known for his extremist views, he has advocated forcibly relocating Palestinians from gaza to establish Israeli settlements there.
He believes Netanyahu’s push for this operation is not driven by military objectives but rather by political efforts to coerce Hamas into prisoner exchanges.
Highlighting that ”the mission in Gaza is incomplete and war goals remain unfulfilled,” Smotrich urged Netanyahu to reconvene the cabinet and firmly declare that he will neither halt the war halfway nor accept any partial prisoner exchange agreements.
Consistently opposing negotiations with Hamas over prisoner releases, Smotrich’s statements have angered families of captives who hold him alongside Netanyahu responsible for the lives at risk among dozens of Israelis held hostage in Gaza.
In related developments last night,protests against Benjamin Netanyahu’s government erupted violently in Tel Aviv. Demonstrators blocked the main Ayalon Highway and set fires along their route as they voiced opposition against government policies and continued warfare in Gaza.
The demonstrations saw physical clashes between protesters and police forces. The israeli mounted police intervened explicitly to disperse crowds and prevent further roadblocks on main streets.
This protest escalated when some demonstrators entered studios at Israel’s Channel 13 during a live broadcast segment on one widely viewed program, demanding an immediate end to hostilities in Gaza.
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