Ben Gvir Slams Hostage Deal: “A Dangerous Agreement"
Ben Gvir urges Finance Minister Smotrich to join forces and block the deal, framing it as a betrayal of soldiers’ sacrifices and a dangerous concession to Hamas’s recovery.
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National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir launched a scathing attack on the proposed hostage release deal currently under discussion, calling it a “dangerous” plan that threatens Israel’s national security and rewards Hamas despite its military defeats.
“This is a deal that gives Hamas what it couldn’t take by force,” Ben Gvir said in a statement. “It stops the IDF from defeating Hamas, withdraws our troops from areas won with the blood of our soldiers, and releases hundreds of terrorists — including murderers with blood on their hands.”
The minister warned that the deal allows Hamas to rearm, replenish its stockpiles, and regain strength, while dividing hostages into categories in a way he described as morally and strategically unacceptable. “We cannot agree to this,” he added.
Responding to suggestions that the deal was being shaped to accommodate President Donald Trump’s interests, Ben Gvir said, “I’m not at all convinced Trump fully supports this. If the Prime Minister were to tell him clearly that we cannot let Hamas recover, I believe he would listen.”
Ben Gvir insisted his opposition was not out of disregard for the hostages. “They are my brothers. I love them. But like with Gilad Shalit, that deal came at a huge cost. What will we say to the mothers of our fallen soldiers? What will we say to the residents of the South?”
With his party holding only six seats, Ben Gvir acknowledged his limited ability to block the deal alone, but issued a direct appeal to Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich: “If he joins me, together we can stop this agreement. I call on my friend Bezalel — let’s act together to block this and pursue a path of total victory.”
Editor's note: Many see Ben Gvir as a perfect Israeli politician worthy of their wrath. The truth is that Israel and Netanyahu and the IDF and everyone with half a brain in their head know full well that the price we will pay for this deal is nothing short of horrific. That being said, (and very much reminiscent of the Gilad Shalit debate), Israel is willing to pay almost any price to get our hostages back home. Also, it's very likely that until that happens, the Gaza-Israel war will continue endlessly. So we head towards the abyss, regardless of the price.