Bezalel Smotrich, a far-right Israeli lawmaker and leader of the Religious Zionism party, speaks during a rally with supporters in the southern Israeli city of Sderot, Oct. 26, 2022 (Credit: AFP)
Israel’s far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and former Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir welcomed Tuesday’s Israeli assault on Gaza, which has so far killed over 400 Palestinians.
Ben-Gvir’s far-right Otzma Yehudit party, which officially left the governing coalition in January in protest of the cease-fire deal with Hamas, said it would return to the government following the renewal of fighting in the Gaza Strip, according to Israeli media. Ben-Gvir’s return to the coalition will "strengthen Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, which was left with only a thin parliamentary majority following his departure in January," according to Reuters.
Ben-Gvir also declared Tuesday that the resumption of fighting was a “correct and justified measure.”
Smotrich, for his part, welcomed the “return to intensive attacks” on Gaza and said it was part of a gradual process planned since Israeli army Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir took office at the beginning of the month. He added that the campaign "will be completely different from what has been done so far."
Meanwhile, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said his country had “no choice” but to resume the war in Gaza, as negotiations with Hamas had reached an “impasse” over the past two and a half weeks.
“No cease-fire and no return of the hostages,” Saar said, describing the stalemate. “If we continue to wait, nothing will move,” he added, declaring that the ongoing Israeli military offensive demonstrated Israel’s commitment to "achieving the objectives of the war."
The cease-fire agreement — brokered by Qatar, Egypt, and the U.S. — took effect on Jan. 19 after 15 months of war in Gaza. During the first phase of the truce, which ended on March 1, Hamas released 33 hostages, including the remains of eight who were dead, while Israel freed about 1,800 Palestinian detainees. However, talks have since stalled.
Hamas wants negotiations to move to the second phase, which the initial agreement stipulates would lead to a permanent cease-fire, an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, the reopening of border crossings for aid, and the release of the remaining hostages. Israel, however, wants to extend the first phase until mid-April and insists that progress to phase two requires the "complete demilitarization" of Gaza and the removal of Hamas.
Following the resumption of fighting, dozens of protesters gathered outside the Knesset in Jerusalem to oppose the renewed war in Gaza and call for the return of hostages, the Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported. Additionally, about 200 protesters are preparing to march across Jerusalem.
Smotrich confronts hostages' families
Also on Tuesday, at an event for families of reservists, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich confronted attendees from the families of hostages, according to Haaretz.
During his speech, Ayala Metzger, the daughter-in-law of hostage Yoram Metzger — who was kidnapped alive on Oct. 7 and killed in Hamas captivity — interrupted Smotrich, shouting: "There are deals on the table, and you are choosing to continue sacrificing more hostages and soldiers!"
Smotrich responded aggressively, saying: "Why do you think you are allowed to keep silencing others? We heard you. Get out. Thank you very much. We paid [a price] too. Let’s not have a competition."
He then called for security, shouting: "Are there Knesset guards here? Is there an orderly Knesset left, or is it all anarchy? How on earth are we still considerate of people who are allowed to silence others, to blow up debates? Why should that be?"
Another attendee from the hostages' families said, "We're being ignored," to which Smotrich replied: "We hear you too loudly everywhere. There is no anarchy here in the Knesset. There is an event here. Goodbye, and get out."