Bezalel Smotrich: It's time to "hit the gas" and take over the Gaza Strip

Finance Minister Betzalel Smotrich said today (Monday) that "it's time to occupy the territory and take civilian control of Gaza from Hamas."

Smotrich said that the military has been avoiding the implementation of the political echelon's recommendation to take civilian control of the Gaza Strip and of distribution of humanitarian aid away from Hamas.

He further said that instead of working on partial hostage agreements which leave most of the remaining hostages behind in Hamas captivity, it's time to "hit the gas" on weakening Hamas.

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has consistently opposed military, let alone civilian control of the Gaza Strip since the beginning of the war, and has instead sought to find a solution involving the Arab states.

Meanwhile, Fatah and Hamas have been negotiating an arrangement for "the day after" the war under the auspices of Egypt. According to the agreement, a joint committee will run civilian affairs in the Gaza Strip which will be broadly national rather than strictly partisan.