‘Catastrophe’: Israel’s Smotrich Doubles Down on Opposition to Gaza Ceasefire Deal

Occupied Palestine (Quds News Network)- Far-right Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has described the Gaza ceasefire deal taking shape as a “catastrophe” for Israel’s security, adding that Israel should “open the gates of hell on Gaza until Hamas’s complete surrender.”
In a post on X on Monday, Smotrich said, “The emerging deal is a catastrophe for the national security of the State of Israel. We will not be part of a surrender deal that includes the release of top terrorists, halting the war, and undermining the achievements brought with great bloodshed, while abandoning many hostages.”
The far-right minister added, “Now is the time to continue with full force, to conquer and cleanse the entire Gaza Strip, to finally take control of humanitarian aid from Hamas, and to open the gates of hell on Gaza until Hamas’s complete surrender and the return of all hostages.”
העסקה המתגבשת היא קטסטרופה לביטחון הלאומי של מדינת ישראל.
לא נהיה חלק מעסקת כניעה שתכלול שיחרור ארכי מחבלים, עצירת מלחמה ומסמוס הישגיה שנקנו בדמים מרובים, והפקרת חטופים רבים.
זה הזמן להמשיך בכל הכוח, לכבוש ולטהר את כל הרצועה, לקחת סוף סוף מידי חמאס את השליטה על הסיוע ההומניטרי…— בצלאל סמוטריץ' (@bezalelsm) January 13, 2025
His remarks come as efforts to reach an agreement have been revived, with progress made and officials expressing hope of finalizing a deal.
Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir have issued several threats whenever a deal is close. The two far-right ministers have threatened to quit and collapse the governing coalition if Netanyahu agrees to a Gaza ceasefire proposal.
However, this time, Smotrich did not threaten to leave the government if the deal is approved. On Sunday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Smotrich to try to persuade him to support the deal, according to the public broadcaster KAN.
Qatar has handed Israel and Hamas a “final” draft of a ceasefire and prisoner release agreement designed to end the war in Gaza, an official briefed on the negotiations told Reuters on Monday.
A breakthrough was reached in Doha after midnight following talks between Israel’s spy chiefs, President-elect Trump’s Middle East envoy and Qatar’s prime minister, the official said.
The talks come as Israel continues its relentless bombardment of the Gaza Strip, particularly the north of the enclave, which has been subject to a brutal siege for more than 100 days. Gaza’s Government Media Office said on Sunday that 5,000 people have been killed or are missing due to the ongoing attacks.
Israel’s assault in Gaza has killed more than 46,000 Palestinians, the majority women and children, and displaced more than 90 percent of the territory’s population from their homes, according to the UN.