Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich stated that the Jewish state "will not pay any price" for the return of the hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, which therefore cannot happen "at any cost".
The Israeli media reported it.
Asked about the 134 prisoners still in the Palestinian enclave, Smotrich told broadcaster Kan that their return was "very important" but that they could not be released "at any cost" and that the way to free them was to increase military pressure on the Gaza Strip defeat Hamas.
Smotrich's words sparked outrage from opposition leader Yair Lapid and the families of the hostages, but shortly afterwards Netanyahu's office published a statement echoing the minister's position: "There is a lot of pressure on Israel, both at home and abroad, so that we can stop the war before achieving all our objectives, including an agreement for the release of the hostages at any cost - states the prime minister -. We are not willing to pay any price: certainly not the delirious cost that Hamas is asking of us, which would mean defeat for the State of Israel."
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