Israel's Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich warned on Sunday that he intends to "bring down" the coalition government if it does not occupy the Gaza Strip.
"I will overthrow the government if it does not fight back in a way that [will lead Israel to] take control of the entire Gaza Strip and rule it," Smotrich told the Army Radio, adding that Israel "must occupy Gaza and create a temporary military government because there is no other way to defeat Hamas."
A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza entered into force earlier in the day, with the first three female hostages captured by the Palestinian militant group on October 7, 2023, expected to be released in the coming hours.
