Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has rejected calls for a ceasefire in Gaza, vowing to pursue a ‘decisive victory’ against Hamas. He argued that halting the operation prematurely would pose a significant threat to Israel’s future. Smotrich’s stance has intensified internal political tensions within the Israeli government as Prime Minister Netanyahu faces challenges in uniting the cabinet on the war’s direction.
Smotrich, a hardliner known for his pro-war rhetoric, emphasized during a press briefing that the Israeli military is ‘in the midst of a campaign against a crushed terrorist organization.’ He warned that there would be ‘no greater danger’ to the country’s future than halting the operation prematurely. His comments came after several failed attempts by Netanyahu to secure a unified stance within the cabinet on the future of Operation Gideon’s Chariots.
Mediators Egypt and Qatar have been pushing a new deal that would pause fighting for 60 days in exchange for the release of some Israeli hostages and expanded humanitarian access to Gaza. This proposal follows the collapse of an earlier US-backed ceasefire framework, which was brokered in January but abandoned in March when Israel resumed military operations. The current negotiations represent a delicate balancing act between Israel’s security priorities and the humanitarian demands of the Gazan population.
Last week, Israel’s military chief, Eyal Zamir, stated that the current phase of the ground operation was close to achieving its goals. This assessment has fueled optimism within the Israeli military, but it has also raised concerns about the potential for extended conflict. The war, triggered by Hamas’ attack on October 7, 2023, has resulted in significant casualties on both sides, with over 56,000 Palestinians reported dead by Hamas-run health authorities and hundreds of Israelis killed in the initial attack, many of whom remain hostages.
Amid the escalating tensions, multiple Israeli media outlets reported that the IDF acknowledged civilian casualties near aid distribution points, while disputing the accuracy of the figures released by Hamas. The Israeli government has maintained that its military actions are justified under international law, but the humanitarian toll has drawn international criticism, with the UN noting the deaths of over 400 people seeking aid after the Israeli and US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) began operations in late May.