Israeli ministers urge PM to take immediate action to destroy Hamas

Far-right ministers in Israel have called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to take decisive action to ensure the complete destruction of Hamas, following reports that the group returned additional remains of a previously released hostage rather than the body of another captive, The Times of Israel reports.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir stated, “The fact that Hamas continues to play games and does not immediately transfer all the bodies of our fallen is, in itself, evidence that the terror organization is still standing. Now we don’t need to ‘extract a price from Hamas’ for the violations. We need to exact from it its very existence, and destroy it completely, once and for all — in accordance with the central goal defined for the War of Revival. Mr. Prime Minister, enough hesitation. Give the order!” 

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich also addressed Netanyahu, calling for an urgent convening of the security cabinet to discuss “forceful responses” to Hamas’ violations of the first phase of the ceasefire and to reinforce efforts toward the group’s elimination.

In his letter, Smotrich emphasized, “Against the backdrop of Hamas’ repeated violations of the ceasefire terms and the first stage of President Trump’s plan, and against the backdrop of the lack of progress in its dismantling and demilitarization of Gaza, I request that you urgently convene the security cabinet today for a discussion in order to formulate a package of forceful and determined responses, and to ensure our adherence to the central objective of the war: the destruction of Hamas and the removal of the threat emanating from Gaza toward the citizens of Israel. Hamas cannot be allowed to taunt the citizens of Israel and cruelly play with the feelings of the families of the fallen hostages.”

By Vafa Guliyeva