Israel’s parliament gave final approval to the long delayed 2025 state budget on Tuesday, in a turbulent session that showed how lawmakers and the country remain divided over the fate of hostages still held in Gaza and the wider political landscape, Reuters has reported.
The Israeli parliament, known as the Knesset, passed the budget by a 66-52 margin. Failure to have approved the budget by 31 March would have triggered a snap election.
“This is a budget of war, and with God’s help it will be a budget of victory,” far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said moments before voting on the budget began.
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The debate took place in a stormy session of the Knesset, where families of some of the hostages entered the main plenum and held up posters and photos of their loved ones. They were joined by opposition lawmakers who also held up signs with “59”, the number of hostages still in Gaza since the Hamas cross-border incursion against Israel on 7 October, 2023. About 24 of them are believed to be still alive.
Ahead of the vote, protesters outside tried to block Knesset members from entering the building. “There is freedom of expression in the State of Israel, but no one is free to forcibly block the democratic process in the Knesset,” said Speaker Amir Ohana.
Israel’s armed forces resumed their bombing of Palestinians in Gaza last week, shattering a two-month ceasefire. On Tuesday, the army told residents in all northern border towns in Gaza to evacuate, claiming that rockets had been fired at Israel from the area.
The return to fighting has led to mass protests in Israel demanding a return to negotiations to bring back the remaining hostages.
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