A prominent far-right Israeli minister has sharply criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's recently approved plan to gradually expand military operations in Gaza. This minister labeled the plan a “foolish” half-measure that could jeopardize Israel's efforts to decisively defeat the militant group, Hamas. The Israeli security cabinet, during a majority vote early Friday, sanctioned preparations for the military to take control of Gaza City as a preliminary step in the military campaign. However, these preparations are anticipated to take weeks or even months, leaving room for potential diplomatic efforts that could either halt or reverse the military actions.
Bezalel Smotrich, Israel’s hard-line finance minister and a significant figure in the ruling coalition, voiced his disapproval of the security cabinet's decision in a video statement on Saturday night. He urged Netanyahu to reconvene the security cabinet and commit to a more aggressive military strategy that promises a “sharp, clear path” to a definitive victory over Hamas, insisting there should be “no more stops in the middle.”
During a news briefing on Sunday, Netanyahu reiterated the cabinet's decision to dismantle Hamas in Gaza City and the central regions of the enclave, areas where military operations have been relatively limited until now. While he did not specify a timeline for these operations, he emphasized that “Given Hamas’s refusal to lay down its arms, Israel has no choice but to finish the job and complete the defeat of Hamas.” He further illustrated his point by referring to the two remaining Hamas strongholds, Gaza City and its central areas, as critical to ending the ongoing conflict.
The remarks made by Smotrich pose a potential threat to the stability of Netanyahu’s fractious coalition government. Alongside another right-wing minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, Smotrich has made it clear that they would consider leaving the coalition if Netanyahu softened his hardline stance on Gaza and Hamas. He indicated that Netanyahu had previously assured him of a “dramatic plan” aimed at achieving a “lightning-fast military victory.”
On Thursday evening, the Israeli security cabinet engaged in discussions regarding the next steps in Gaza and released a vague statement early Friday morning with minimal details. An Israeli official, speaking anonymously, revealed that the cabinet set a deadline of October 7 for the military to ensure the evacuation of hundreds of thousands of Palestinian residents from Gaza City before any military actions could commence. The military also requires additional time to call up enough reserve forces to implement the mission, and the details of their strategy may evolve.
Smotrich has been a vocal advocate for Israel to impose sovereignty over Gaza, which would facilitate the potential for renewed Jewish settlements in the area, two decades after Israel withdrew its forces and evacuated all settlers. Netanyahu's latest military strategy raises concerns that it could result in significant casualties among both Palestinians and Israeli soldiers, while also jeopardizing the safety of the 20 hostages believed to still be alive.
Historically, Israel captured a substantial portion of Gaza City during the initial stages of the conflict but relinquished control based on the erroneous assumption that the military had achieved operational dominance. Smotrich voiced concerns that if Hamas were to agree to a deal, Israel would “retreat once again” and allow the militant group to regroup and rearm. Although he refrained from explicitly stating he would resign, Smotrich confessed to having “lost faith” in Netanyahu’s leadership.
Tzvi Sukkot, a member of Smotrich’s Religious Zionism party, suggested on Sunday that it might be time to reconsider their alliance with Netanyahu’s coalition and potentially initiate early elections. Currently, the next election is slated for October 2026, adding another layer of complexity to the already tumultuous political landscape in Israel.
