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Israeli Finance Minister Threatens to Topple Government if Gaza Not Occupied and Controlled

Jan 19, 2025, 10:23 AM

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a member of the far-right Religious Zionist Party, has threatened to bring down the government if it does not resume fighting in the Gaza Strip with the aim of fully controlling and managing the region. Smotrich stated that Israel must occupy Gaza and impose temporary military rule as the only way to defeat Hamas. His comments come in the wake of a ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement that took effect, which he described as a 'very serious mistake' and 'surrender to Hamas.' Smotrich's opposition to the ceasefire deal is part of a broader stance against what he perceives as a threat to Israel's national security and a reversal of the war's achievements.