Israeli minister says Hamas must be destroyed after release of hostages

Israel’s far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has said that Hamas should be eliminated once all hostages held in Gaza are freed.

In a post on X, Smotrich voiced concern over the planned release of Palestinian prisoners as part of the ceasefire deal, describing them as “the next generation of terrorist leaders.”

He also stated that he would not support the proposed truce agreement with Hamas, though he did not threaten to quit or destabilize Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition government.

His comments came after Israel and Hamas reached an initial ceasefire agreement reportedly based on US President Donald Trump’s 20-point peace proposal aimed at ending the war in Gaza.

Trump announced the deal on his Truth Social platform, saying it would lead to the “imminent release of all hostages” and a withdrawal of Israeli troops to agreed positions.

Under the first phase of the plan, Hamas and other Palestinian groups are expected to free 20 Israeli captives believed to be alive, along with the remains of 28 others.

 In return, Israel would release more than 1,000 Palestinian detainees, including hundreds from Gaza who were arrested after the conflict erupted in October 2023.