Smotrich: "Would You Sign a Deal To Keep Hitler In Power?"

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich took to X this evening to address the suffering of Israeli hostages held by Hamas. While expressing deep sorrow for their plight, he strongly criticized comparisons to the Holocaust, calling them a "grave mistake" that trivializes history.

"The suffering of our hostages in Hamas’ brutal captivity is heartbreaking. But comparisons to the Holocaust are a serious error and diminish its significance. There was only one Holocaust, and no matter how terrible a situation may be, nothing compares to it," Smotrich wrote.

However, he also took aim at those who, in his view, use such comparisons to push for a deal with Hamas. "To those who compared Hamas' treatment of our hostages to the Holocaust today and are pushing for us to surrender because of it, I have a question: Would you have signed a deal with Hitler that left the Nazis in power and allowed them to prepare for the next Holocaust? Of course not. That is why there will be no deal that keeps Hamas in control and lets them plan the next October 7."

Smotrich made it clear that while the return of all hostages is a priority, Hamas must be completely eliminated. "Under no circumstances. As much as bringing back our hostages is crucial, Hamas and everything connected to it—inside Gaza and beyond—must be destroyed and wiped off the face of the earth, so that no one will ever again consider kidnapping Jews or treating them this way.".