Israel’s Smotrich Calls Potential Gaza Ceasefire “Serious Error”

Occupied Palestine (Quds News Network)- Far-right Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has called the potential ceasefire deal in Gaza a “serious error” amid renewed efforts to reach an agreement.

“Hamas is at its lowest point since the beginning of the war, and this is not the time to give it a lifeline,” Smotrich told the Haredi radio station Kol Barama, according to the Ynet News site.

The minister said without providing details that the deal would not serve the interests of Israel or return the captives “because in the end it’s a partial deal”.

His remarks come as efforts for an agreement have been renewed in the past weeks.

In a key concession, Hamas officials say they are prepared to show more “flexibility” on the timing of an Israeli troop withdrawal from Gaza, and Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz said Monday that a deal is closer than ever.

Officials on all sides have cautioned that key details must still be worked out. But there is a general sense of optimism that has been lacking for many months.

On Tuesday, sources told Reuters that a deal was “expected to be signed in the coming days”.

Hamas said in a brief statement that there were “serious and positive discussions taking place in Doha” on Tuesday and that a deal was “possible” if Israel stopped introducing new conditions.

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.