The Israel Defense Forces is preparing plans for “a renewed occupation of Gaza and the dismantling of Hamas,” Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a member of Jerusalem’s Security Cabinet, told JNS on Monday.
“We will be ready,” Smotrich said, speaking with JNS following a faction meeting of his Religious Zionism Party at the Knesset. “Now we have no hostages there and there are far fewer restrictions: fast, sharp, resolute,” he said.
President Donald Trump “often used the word ‘violent,’ so I like that word,” Smotrich continued. “It will be very violent, forceful and quick.”
Smotrich spoke as Israel counted down to a deadline set by Trump for Hamas to return the remaining 13 bodies of slain Israeli hostages they have failed to return under the U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreement.
On Tuesday, Smotrich called on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to immediately freeze the deal amid reports that Hamas had not returned the body of the 16th slain hostage as it committed to, instead substituting remains that belonged to a previously released captive.
“In light of the repeated violations of the ceasefire terms by Hamas and the exploitation of the first phase of the ceasefire,” Smotrich urged the premier to immediately convene the Cabinet to decide on a response.
While the Jewish state is giving Trump’s plan a chance to succeed, Smotrich told JNS ahead of the deadline on Monday, “if it doesn’t happen the right way, we will make it happen.”
“We are strengthening Trump’s hands,” the senior minister said, but Jerusalem is not willing to compromise on the demand that the Strip be completely cleansed of Hamas and other terror organizations.
“As the end result, there will be no Hamas in Gaza and the Strip will be demilitarized,” he declared. “It will not threaten the State of Israel.”
According to Channel 12 News, Israeli intelligence indicates that Hamas is aware of the location of most of the remaining 13 hostage bodies, but is trying to buy time before moving to the next phase of Washington’s peace plan, which calls for the terror organization’s disarmament.
So far, Hamas has returned only 15. Jerusalem reportedly believes that the terror organization can find at least 10 of the 13 remaining bodies.
On Saturday, Trump urged Hamas to return over the following 48 hours the remains of the deceased hostages the terror group still holds in Gaza or face action by “the other countries involved” in his peace agreement.
“Hamas is going to have to start returning the bodies of the deceased hostages, including two Americans, quickly,” he wrote on Truth Social, “or the other countries involved in this great peace will take action.”
“Some of the bodies are hard to reach, but others they can return now and, for some reason, they are not. Perhaps it has to do with their disarming,” the president continued.
“When I said, ‘Both sides would be treated fairly,’ that only applies if they comply with their obligations,” he added. “Let’s see what they do over the next 48 hours. I am watching this very closely.”
IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir said on Monday that the war in Gaza “is not yet over; we must complete our sacred mission to bring home the fallen hostages, and continue the mission against Hamas.”
“We convene today after two years, arriving at a pivotal turning point in the combat. Out of the great failure of [the Hamas-led massacre in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023], we have achieved enormous, multi-front accomplishments,” Zamir told a military conference.
“The IDF is the defense force of the State of Israel,” Zamir stressed. “Victory, together with the mission of defense across all arenas, will continue to be our compass. The IDF will always be prepared for war.”
