Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, an ultra-rightist, called on Israel today to occupy the Gaza Strip and establish military rule, threatening to topple the government if it does not.
In a statement to military radio, Smotrich, leader of the Religious Zionism party, stated that Israel "must occupy Gaza and form a temporary military government, because there is no other way to defeat Hamas."
"I will topple the government if it does not return to fighting in a way that leads us to take over the entire Gaza Strip and rule it," Smotrich said, criticizing Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, the chief of staff, for saying his strategy is weak.
"If I were prime minister, I would tell the chief of staff: 'This is my policy, if you don't implement it, go home,'" the minister added, insisting that Israel take over the security and control of humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced in previous statements that Israel has no plan to conquer Gaza or occupy it permanently.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sarr warned today, shortly after the start of the ceasefire in the Gaza war, of regional instability if Hamas remains in power.
"If Hamas remains in power, the regional instability it causes will likely continue, there is no future for peace, stability and security for both sides if Hamas remains in power in the Gaza Strip," Minister Saar warned at a press conference in Jerusalem.
The ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip came into effect today.
The Palestinian movement Hamas announced earlier today that three female hostages would be released today. They are Romy Gonen, Doron Steinbrecher and Emily Damari.
Israel's hardline National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and two other ministers from his nationalist-religious party earlier resigned from their positions in Netanyahu's government over the Gaza ceasefire agreement.
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