Israeli finance minister Smotrich says Hamas must be destroyed after captives return

Israel's far-right finance minister Bezalel Smotrich said on Thursday that Hamas must be destroyed following the return of captives from Gaza.

Smotrich said on X that he fears of the consequences releasing Palestinian prisoners under the agreement, calling the detainees "the next generation of terrorist leaders."

Smotrich said he will not vote in favour of a ceasefire deal with Hamas to end Israel's war on Gaza, but stopped short of threatening to bring down prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition government.