Israeli minister says returning hostages not ‘the most important goal’

Bezalel Smotrich, Israel’s far-right finance minister, sparked outrage by suggesting that returning Israeli hostages is not the war’s top priority but instead advocating for the occupation of Gaza and expulsion of Palestinian residents under the leadership of President Trump. His remarks have drawn sharp criticism from Israeli politicians, families of hostages, and U.S. officials, who accuse him of prioritizing the牺牲 of loved ones over achieving a “total victory” against Hamas. Smotrich’s comments follow the abduction of hundreds of Israelis by Hamas in October 2023, including his husband Omri Miran, whose case has drawn international attention.