(TJV NEWS) Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich declared Saturday that he no longer believes Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is committed to securing a decisive victory in the Gaza war, The Times of Israel reported. Smotrich’s remarks came after the security cabinet, on Thursday, approved what he called a “half-measure” — a plan to seize Gaza City — which he argued falls short of the full military and political campaign needed to defeat Hamas.

In a strongly worded video statement, cited by The Times of Israel, Smotrich said he had “worked intensively” with Netanyahu in recent weeks to create a plan combining military force and political pressure to dismantle Hamas and secure the release of all hostages. Initially, he believed Netanyahu supported the plan, but then “he made a U-turn,” opting instead for an operation aimed at pushing Hamas toward a partial hostage deal.

According to The Times of Israel, Smotrich accused the prime minister and the cabinet of succumbing to “weakness” and “emotion over reason,” claiming that the current approach gives Hamas the opportunity to recover and rearm. “This is not how you win a war,” he said, arguing that the Israel Defense Forces would “move tepidly” when pursuing partial deals, which he described as an “immoral and illogical folly” that risks soldiers’ lives and international condemnation.

While Smotrich stopped short of threatening to quit the coalition — something he has previously said he would do if the war was not conducted to his satisfaction — he told The Times of Israel that, for the first time since the war began, he could not “stand behind this decision” in good conscience.

The finance minister urged Netanyahu to change course, reject partial agreements, and commit to total victory, either by forcing Hamas to surrender and release all hostages at once or by fully defeating and destroying the group. He also reiterated his controversial stance in favor of annexing large parts of Gaza and opening them for voluntary migration.

As The Times of Israel noted, Smotrich, along with National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, voted against the Gaza City plan. Smotrich reportedly objected to Netanyahu’s willingness to halt the operation if Hamas agreed to a deal, while Ben Gvir opposed the inclusion of aid provisions for Palestinians evacuating the city.

Netanyahu’s government depends on both Smotrich and Ben Gvir, who advocate permanent Israeli control over Gaza, the displacement of Palestinians, and the rebuilding of Jewish settlements in the enclave, The Times of Israel reported.

The proposal to take over Gaza City — despite warnings from IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir that it could endanger remaining hostages and cause a humanitarian disaster — has faced fierce opposition from hostage families. Demonstrations erupted in Tel Aviv on Thursday and Saturday, with protesters blocking roads and clashing with police.

Hamas and other terror factions in Gaza continue to hold 50 hostages, including the bodies of at least 28 confirmed dead, according to the IDF. Twenty are believed to be alive, with grave concerns for two others. Hamas is also holding the remains of an IDF soldier killed in 2014, The Times of Israel reported.