Israel’s far-right Finance Minister, Bezalel Smotrich, has warned his country would oppose any deal that would stop the war.
This is as US President, Joe Biden, said on Monday that a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal between Hamas and Israel was “on the brink” of being finalized.
The Israeli Finance minister stated categorically that his nation won’t be part of the ‘proposed agreement’ which he said is a ‘catastrophe for Israel’s national security.’
This is even as heavy fighting has continued in the Palestinian territory.
News360 Info reports that the US, alongside the likes of Qatar and Egypt, have since early January intensified efforts to reach a deal for a ceasefire in Gaza.
The ceasefire would help facilitate the release of hostages still being held there.
“In the war between Israel and Hamas, we’re on the brink of a proposal that I laid out in detail months ago finally coming to fruition,” Biden said in a farewell speech at the State Department.
Jake Sullivan, the White House National Security Advisor, said on Monday that a truce deal could be finalised this week.
“I’m not making a promise or prediction, but it is there for the taking and we are going to work to make it happen,” Sullivan told reporters.
In his reaction on X, Smotrich warned he would oppose any deal that stopped the war.
“The proposed agreement is a catastrophe for Israel’s national security. 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 added.
