Key Coalition Partner Harshly Criticizes Netanyahu’s Decision to Suspend Military Assault in Gaza

Jerusalem, 4 October, 2025 (TPS-IL) — Israel’s Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for agreeing to halt the IDF’s (Israel Defense Forces) Gaza offensive unilaterally and before Hamas officially agreed to release hostages. Smotrich leads the right-wing religious Zionism Party in Netanyahu’s coalition government.

“The Prime Minister’s decision to halt the offensive in Gaza and conduct negotiations for the first time without being under fire is a serious mistake and is a sure recipe for Hamas stalling for time and a growing erosion of the Israeli position, both with respect to the release of the hostages in one fell swoop within 72 hours and with respect to the central war goal of eliminating Hamas and completely demobilizing Gaza,” said Smotrich.