Finance minister said to convene with bereaved families, relatives of hostages, and strategists to formulate pressure tactics for stopping ceasefire-hostage deal after 1st stage

The finance minister accused Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi of having an aversion to anything sacking of military "occupation."

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich threatens to dismantle the government if it proceeds with the second phase of the ceasefire deal.

Israel's finance minister Bezalel Smotrich has threatened to topple Prime Minister Netanyahu's coalition if war in Gaza doesn't resume post-ceasefire. Smotrich's departure could lead to government collapse.

Far-right Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich threatened Sunday to overthrow the government if it did not occupy the Gaza Strip. The extremist minister called a Gaza ceasefire agreement a “very serious mistake” and “surrender to Hamas.”

"The State of Israel will be able to return to the war on day 43" if talks fail during the first phase of the ceasefire, the Israeli finance minister told

Chairman Ben Gvir tells Netanyahu he's proud of party's 'significant achievements under your leadership' but slams him for crossing 'all ideological red lines'

I think that he is a great hero and very professional at the operational level of using force, but he has no strategic vision.”

Israel captured the West Bank, Gaza and east Jerusalem in the 1967 Mideast war, and Palestinians want all three territories for their future state. Escalations in one area frequently spill over, raising further concerns that the second and far more difficult phase of the Gaza ceasefire — which has yet to be negotiated — may never come.

The post Smotrich says he’ll ‘bring down the government’ if Israel doesn’t occupy Gaza appeared first on The Times of Israel.

Israel's top general resigned on Tuesday, citing the security and intelligence failures related to Hamas' surprise attack that triggered the war in the Gaza Strip. Israel meanwhile launched a large operation in the occupied West Bank, killing at least eight people, according to Palestinian officials.

The post Smotrich warmly welcomes release of four surveillance soldiers, despite voting against hostage-ceasefire deal appeared first on The Times of Israel.