Israel far-right minister vows to oppose Gaza deal

Since early January, indirect negotiations mediated by Qatar, Egypt and the United States have resumed in Doha to strike a ceasefire deal that would also facilitate the release of dozens of hostages still held in Gaza.

"The proposed agreement is a catastrophe for Israel's national security," Smotrich said on X. "We will not be part of a surrender deal that involves releasing dangerous terrorists, halting the war, squandering the hard-won achievements paid for in blood, and abandoning many hostages still in captivity.

"Now is the time to intensify our efforts, using all available force to fully secure and cleanse the Gaza Strip," he continued.

"We must take decisive control of humanitarian aid to prevent its exploitation by Hamas, and open the gates of hell on Gaza until Hamas surrenders unconditionally and all hostages are safely returned."

Foreign Minister Gideon Saar meanwhile said that Israel was "working hard" to reach a deal that would facilitate the release of the captives.

At a joint press conference with his visiting Danish counterpart Lars Lokke Rasmussen in Jerusalem on Monday, Saar said: "There has been progress in the negotiations for the release of the hostages."

"Israel really wants to release the hostages and is working hard to secure a deal."

Smotrich, an outspoken member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's ruling coalition, has repeatedly opposed halting the war in Gaza.

His comments came amid rising calls by Israelis, particularly families of hostages still held in Gaza, to reach an accord that would bring home their loved ones.
'Progress'
Smotrich's comments underline the sharp divides in Netanyahu's ruling coalition over a deal.

Netanyahu could nonetheless muster enough support to pass the deal through his cabinet, even without Smotrich's support.

On Sunday, Netanyahu briefed outgoing US President Joe Biden on the "progress in negotiations" in Doha.

"The prime minister discussed with the American president the progress in the negotiations for the release of our hostages and updated him on the mandate he has given to the negotiating team in Doha, aimed at advancing the release of the hostages," Netanyahu's office said in a statement.

Successive rounds of negotiations held last year repeatedly failed to produce a deal.

Among the key sticking points in the talks have been disagreements over a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, as well the scale of humanitarian aid for the Palestinian territory.

Other aspects hindering the deal include the return of displaced Gazans to their homes, the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Palestinian territory and the reopening of border crossings.

Netanyahu has firmly rejected a full withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza and remains opposed to any Palestinian governance of the territory.

The war in Gaza was sparked by Hamas's attack on October 7, 2023, which resulted in the deaths of 1,210 people on the Israeli side, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of official Israeli figures.

On that day, militants also took 251 people hostage, 94 of whom are still held captive in Gaza, including 34 the Israeli military says are dead.

Israel's retaliatory military offensive in Gaza has killed 46,584 people, a majority of them civilians, according to the Hamas-run territory's health ministry figures that the United Nations says are reliable.