Israeli finance minister: Stopping Gaza war now would be folly

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said on Monday it would be a huge mistake to stop Israel's military offensive in Gaza now.

Smotrich, who heads a pro-settler party that is part of Prime Minister Netanyahu's governing coalition, commented as Israeli officials continued talks via mediators about a possible ceasefire deal with Palestinian militant group Hamas.

He wrote on X: "Hamas is collapsing and begging for a ceasefire. This is the time to squeeze the neck until we crush and break the enemy. To stop now, just before the end, and let him recover and fight us again, is a senseless folly."

Reuters