Israeli finance minister Smotrich says Hamas must be destroyed after captives return
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<span class="field field-title">Israeli finance minister Smotrich says Hamas must be destroyed after captives return</span>
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<div class="field field-field-text"><p>Israel's far-right finance minister Bezalel Smotrich said on Thursday that Hamas must be destroyed following the return of captives from Gaza.</p>
<p>Smotrich said on X that he fears of the consequences releasing Palestinian prisoners under the agreement, calling the detainees "the next generation of terrorist leaders."</p>
<p>Smotrich said he will not vote in favour of a ceasefire deal with Hamas to end Israel's war on Gaza, but stopped short of threatening to bring down prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition government.</p>
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<div alt="Israel's Finance Minister and leader of the Religious Zionist Party Bezalel Smotrich attends a meeting at the parliament, Knesset, in Jerusalem on March 20, 2023. (AFP)" data-embed-button="file_browser" data-entity-embed-display="image:image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="e9d1d46a-a6e5-4d68-bb52-7f926a4b175d" data-langcode="en" class="embedded-entity"> <img src="https://www.middleeasteye.net/sites/default/files/srael%27s%20Finance%20Minister%20and%20leader%20of%20the%20Religious%20Zionist%20Party%20Bezalel%20Smotrich%20attends%20a%20meeting%20at%20the%20parliament%2C%20Knesset%2C%20in%20Jerusalem%20on%20March%2020%2C%202023.%20AFP.jpg" width="1024" height="682" alt="Israel's Finance Minister and leader of the Religious Zionist Party Bezalel Smotrich attends a meeting at the parliament, Knesset, in Jerusalem on March 20, 2023. (AFP)" typeof="foaf:Image" fetchpriority="high">
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<figcaption>Israel's Finance Minister and leader of the Religious Zionist Party Bezalel Smotrich attends a meeting at the parliament, Knesset, in Jerusalem on 20 March, 2023. (AFP)</figcaption>
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