Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and other members of Israel’s ruling coalition welcomed Sunday’s government announcement that aid is being halted to Gaza after Hamas rejected U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff‘s ceasefire extension proposal.
“The decision we made last night to completely halt humanitarian aid to Gaza until Hamas is destroyed or completely surrenders and all our hostages are returned is an important step in the right direction. ‘The threshold of the gates of hell,’” Smotrich tweeted.
“Now we need to open those gates as quickly and lethally as possible on the cruel enemy, until absolute victory. We remained in the government to ensure this, and with God’s help, it will be,” the Religious Zionism Party leader continued.
Education Minister Yoav Kisch tweeted: “The decision to halt the entry of humanitarian aid until the hostages are returned is important and correct. Israel must continue to pressure Hamas with all the tools at its disposal, while cooperating with the American administration until the last of the hostages is returned.”
Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi wrote on X: “The testimony of the captive Eli Sharabi [of starvation and beatings] is further proof of Hamas’s Nazi-like conduct and, above all, of the strength of the Jewish people. All hostages must come home immediately. Otherwise, fire and brimstone on the despicable terrorists. Without mercy. For the Jews, there will be light and joy, and for the Nazis, the gates of hell are opening today.”
Former National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, chairman of the Otzma Yehudit Party, welcomed the decision to stop the flow of supplies to Gaza, tweeting:
“Finally, the decision has been made—better late than never. This should be the policy until the last hostage is returned. Now is the time to open the gates of hell, cut off electricity and water, return to war, and most importantly, not settle for just half of the hostages, but return to President Trump’s ultimatum—all hostages immediately, or hell will open on Gaza,” Ben-Gvir wrote.
