Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich described the prisoner swap deal between Israel and Hamas as a “surrender deal” and a “catastrophe,” after he and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who presented them with the proposed deal reached during negotiations in Doha.

Smotrich said that he and his party, Religious Zionism, "will not be part of a surrender deal," claiming that the deal is "a disaster for Israeli national security."

Smotrich continued, "We will not be part of a surrender deal that includes the release of major terrorists, stopping the war and weakening its achievements that were achieved with much blood, and giving up many kidnapped people."

Smotrich claimed that "this is the time to continue with all force, to occupy and cleanse the entire Strip, and to finally take control of humanitarian aid from Hamas and open the gates of hell on Gaza until Hamas surrenders completely and all the kidnapped are returned."

Smotrich calls for the establishment of settlements in the Gaza Strip, and called for the displacement of most of the Strip's residents outside it.

He said last week that after the inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump on the 20th of this month, Israel will reduce humanitarian aid to the residents of the Gaza Strip to "the minimum required under international law."

Smotrich, while answering questions from visitors to the Religious Zionism Channel website, considered that "Israel must remain in Gaza for a very long time, and must stop fearing the word occupation."

He described reports about the day after the war on Gaza and the administration of the Strip by Arab countries with the participation of the Palestinian Authority as "dreams", adding that "there is no other party that sheds blood for our benefit."