Both the country’s prime minister and finance minister said the return of the hostages was “very important” but they could not be released “at any cost”
The prime minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu and the finance minister of his government, Bezalel Smotrichsaid today that their country would not pay “any price” for the return of the hostages still being held in the Gaza Strip while negotiations for their release continue.
When asked about the 134 hostages remaining in Gaza, Smotrich told Kan Radio that their return was “very important” but that they could not be released “at any cost”. The way to their release is the strengthening of military pressure on Gaza and the defeat of Hamas, he added.
These statements were criticized by the leader of the opposition Yair Lapid and Minister Benny Gantz and angered some of the families of the hostages who are trying to pressure the government to make a deal.
However, shortly after the radio interview, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office released a statement echoing Smotrich’s position.
“There is a lot of pressure on Israel, from home and abroad, to stop the war before we achieve all of our goals, including an agreement to release the hostages at any cost. We are not willing to pay any price, certainly not the delusional cost that Hamas is asking us to pay, which would mean the defeat of the state of Israel,” Netanyahu said.
These statements were made at the time the United States plans to send its special envoy for the Middle East to the region, as part of talks between the US, Egypt, Israel and Qatar aimed at an agreement on a ceasefire and the release of hostages.
Source :Skai
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