Israeli finance minister Smotrich says Hamas must be destroyed after captives return Israel's far-right finance minister Bezalel Smotrich said on Thursday that Hamas must be destroyed following the return of captives from Gaza. 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." 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. 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)