Ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben Gvir voiced Thursday opposition to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s directive to send Mossad head David Barnea to Qatar to advance a possible hostage deal.

“The continued involvement of Qatar in negotiations for the release of hostages is a serious mistake,” Smotrich said. Ben Gvir, who also opposed the previous deal that saw the release of 80 Israeli women and children from captivity, added: “The dispatch of the negotiation team was not done with the consent of all Cabinet members, and therefore I oppose it.

“At this critical point in Israel’s confrontation with Hamas, particularly after the elimination of Sinwar, we must not give Hamas any breathing space,” Ben-Gvir added. “We should continue working toward its defeat. That is the surest and safest way to achieve victory and bring the hostages home, not through deals that will allow Hamas to regroup, rebuild its military capabilities, and harm our soldiers again.”

He concluded by praising Netanyahu, the IDF, and Israel’s security forces for their positive trend over the past two months. “Israel is acting aggressively and engaging the enemy on multiple fronts, and I urge them to continue this path until total victory.”

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