‘Rivers of Jewish blood’ – Religious Zionism to vote against deal

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich speaks out against truce and hostage release, saying that Israel must “continue to strive with all its might for the real eradication of Hamas.”

By World Israel News Staff

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich voiced his firm opposition to the ceasefire and hostage exchange agreement between Israel and Hamas, declaring Thursday morning that his party cannot condone the end of the war before the complete destruction of the terror group is achieved.

Smotrich, who leads the right-wing Religious Zionism party, said he will vote against the agreement during the cabinet and government meetings expected to be held this evening.

“We cannot join in the short-sighted celebrations or vote in favor of the deal,” Smotrich said in a statement to Hebrew-language media.

While expressing “immense joy” over the prospect of Israeli hostages returning home after two years of captivity in Gaza, Smotrich warned of severe long-term consequences.

Referring to the nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners expected to be freed — including about 250 convicted of murdering Israelis — in exchange for 48 hostages, living and dead, Smotrich cautioned that Israel would face the “consequences of emptying the prisons and releasing the next generation of terrorist leaders, who will do everything to continue spilling rivers of Jewish blood.”

He vowed that his party would work “to ensure that this is not, God forbid, a deal of ‘hostages in exchange for stopping the war,’ as Hamas thinks and brags about.”

Smotrich stressed that Israel must “continue to strive with all its might for the real eradication of Hamas and the real demilitarization of Gaza so that it no longer poses a threat to Israel.”

Minister of Settlements and National Missions Orit Strook, also a member of Religious Zionism, hinted in an interview with Ynet that the party might quit the government over the deal.

“[I don’t] know how it’s morally possible to remain in a government that does Oslo III, sends soldiers to fight and says — we gave up on these goals,” Strook said.