Smotrich: 'Thanks to me, all the hostages are home'
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich says his insistence prevented Prime Minister Netanyahu from continuing negotiations with Hamas. "I have a very significant influence on the war."
Assessment
Finance Minister Smotrich is claiming personal credit for the return of all hostages, attributing his own resistance to negotiations as the decisive factor. This statement publicly positions him as a key obstacle to any diplomatic path that might have been pursued. The remark escalates internal coalition tensions by suggesting he overrode the Prime Minister's apparent willingness to negotiate. It signals that Smotrich sees political advantage in emphasizing his hardline influence over war policy, which could deepen divisions within the government.