Israeli finance minister calls for ‘utter destruction’ of Gaza’s Rafah, end to truce talks
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has called for the “utter destruction” of Rafah and other cities in Gaza while slamming Israel’s ongoing hostage negotiations with Hamas.
“No half jobs. Rafah, Deir al-Balah, Nuseirat, total and utter destruction,” Smotrich said, referring to the two cities in Gaza and the Nuseirat refugee camp.
Smotrich’s remarks underscore the pressure Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces among members of his governing coalition to press ahead with an attack on Rafah, the southern Gaza border city where over one million displaced Palestinians are sheltering.
Smotrich lashed out at Israel’s government for pursuing truce talks with Hamas that could pause the fighting in return for the exchange of hostages held in Gaza and Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.
“We are negotiating with the ones that shouldn’t have existed for a long time,” he said. [Continue reading…]