Israel’s Smotrich takes credit for delaying release of Palestinian prisoners

Israeli Minister of Finance Bezalel Smotrich claimed on Monday that his Religious Zionism Party was responsible for the decision on Saturday to delay the release of detained Palestinians as part of the ongoing ceasefire-prisoner swap deal with Hamas.

“Our influence on decision-making is very great, including the decision not to release the 600 [Palestinians] on Saturday night,” he told reporters ahead of his party’s weekly meeting, stressing that the decision not to withdraw from the government, despite harsh criticism from far-right parties, over the truce deal, is proven to be right every day.

“We do not take our eyes off the goal for which we are still in the government, which is to ensure the achievement of all the war goals, most notably the complete destruction of Hamas militarily, civilly and politically. We have the opportunity to participate in a series of steps that will change the course of history, which will enhance Israel’s security and strength in the coming years and on all fronts,” he added.

Smotrich also threatened Hamas, claiming the movement knows “very well that their time on earth is limited, until the state of Israel returns to fight with full force, speed and lethality that will overwhelm and destroy them.”

“When we decide that time has come to resume the war, you will be surprised by the strength, intensity and lethality of the occupation of Gaza,” he added, claiming the Israeli occupation military is preparing to occupy the Gaza Strip under the leadership of the newly appointed Chief of Staff, Eyal Zamir, in coordination with US President Donald Trump’s administration.

On Saturday, the occupation government postponed the release of the seventh batch of Palestinian detainees in a new violation of the first stage of the ceasefire agreement.

The seventh batch was made up of 402 Palestinians, including 50 detainees who had been serving life terms, 60 serving long sentences, 47 who were re-arrested after the Shalit prisoner exchange deal, and 445 from the Gaza Strip, who were arrested during the Israeli occupation’s aggression on the Strip after 7 October 2023.

A Gaza ceasefire and prisoner swap deal took effect last month, halting Israel’s genocidal war, which has killed more than 48,350 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and left the enclave in ruins.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants in November for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for its conduct in the enclave.

READ: Palestinians warn of escalating Israeli violations against Ibrahimi Mosque