Israel has a strategic plan currently underway in the Gaza Strip, Finance Minister (Religious Zionism Party) Bezalel Smotrich told Religious Zionism party MKs on Sunday night, following Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's announcement to enable "localized humanitarian ceasefires" in the Strip.
While not elaborating on the details, he said that, "In war, it's not right to make political calculations. We will be tested by the results – Hamas's decision.
"We are advancing a good strategy, but it’s not advisable to expand on it right now. In a short time, we will know if it pays off and where we are headed."
Netanyahu's decision led National Missions Minister Orit Strock, a member of Smotrich's party, to consider leaving the government.
Attending conference for 'plan' to resettle in Gaza
These comments come less than a week after he participated in a conference titled "Riviera in Gaza – From Vision to Reality" in the Knesset, where a "practical plan" for establishing a permanent Jewish presence in the Gaza Strip was presented.
At the conference, Smotrich stated, "The chief of staff told me a week ago that we need to annex the northern border of the Gaza Strip for security reasons."
The conference organizers said that "social, legal, security, and logistical models" for the settlement plan were presented. The conference was attended by right-wing Knesset members, community leaders from the Gaza border region, former security officials, bereaved families, and hostage representatives.
Smotrich met with bereaved families and relatives of hostages still in the Gaza Strip in recent weeks to discuss the ongoing negotiations for a deal with Hamas, amid reports claiming that he may oppose a deal and even consider resigning from the government.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir called on Smotrich to join a front against the deal. In response, the Finance Ministry stated: "We regularly meet with bereaved families and relatives of hostages. We firmly oppose the deal and believe it will take us backward."
Eliav Breuer and Jerusalem Post Staff contributed to this report.