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JERUSALEM: Israel’s far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said he opposed the Gaza ceasefire deal reached between Israel and Hamas on Thursday, insisting that he would vote against it.
He did not, however, threaten to resign from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.
“There is immense fear of the consequences of emptying the prisons and releasing the next generation of terrorist leaders who will do everything to continue to pour rivers of Jewish blood here, God forbid,” Smotrich said on X.
“For this reason alone, we cannot join in short-sighted celebrations or vote in favor of the deal.”
Smotrich expressed joy at the expected return of all hostages, but insisted that the war must not end once they are home.
“Immediately after the abductees return home, the state of Israel must continue to strive with all its strength to fully eradicate Hamas and completely demilitarise Gaza so that it no longer poses a threat to Israel,” he said.

DUBAI: World leaders on Thursday welcomed the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, expressing hope it would bring an end to months of conflict in Gaza and open the door to a lasting political solution.

����ֱ��’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomed the agreement reached on Gaza and the start of implementing the first phase of US President Donald Trump’s proposal aimed at ending the war in the enclave and paving the way for a comprehensive and just peace.

The Kingdom praised the effective role of President Trump and the mediation efforts of Qatar, Egypt, and Turkiye in helping reach the agreement.

����ֱ�� expressed hope that this step will lead to urgent measures to ease the humanitarian suffering of the Palestinian people in Gaza, ensure a full Israeli withdrawal, and restore security and stability.

The Kingdom also reaffirmed its support for a just and lasting peace based on the two-state solution and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in line with UN resolutions, the Arab Peace Initiative, and the New York Statement on a peaceful settlement to the Palestinian issue.

Jordan also welcomed the ceasefire agreement and the mechanisms for implementing its first phase, which include ending the war, exchanging hostages and prisoners, withdrawing Israeli forces from Gaza, and allowing the immediate entry of humanitarian aid to end the famine facing the Strip.

Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi emphasized the need to fully implement the deal, end the conflict, and urgently deliver humanitarian assistance to confront the famine facing Gaza’s population.

Egypt’s foreign ministry called the deal after indirect talks between Israel and Hamas in the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm El-Sheikh “a pivotal moment in the war in Gaza.”

Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas said he hoped that the deal “would be a prelude to reaching a permanent political solution,” leading to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan singled out his US counterpart Donald Trump for praise, thanking him for demonstrating “the necessary political will to encourage the Israeli government toward the ceasefire.”

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez hailed the deal as “the beginning of a just and lasting peace,” calling for renewed dialogue, support for civilians, and remembrance of the conflict’s toll.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Berlin was closely monitoring developments but remained confident an agreement could be finalized within hours, paving the way for hostage releases and a partial Israeli withdrawal.

French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed the deal and said it must “mark the end of the war and the beginning of a political solution based on the two-state solution.”

China also voiced support for the agreement, urging “a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire” and calling for regional de-escalation. Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said Beijing supports the principle that “Palestinians should govern Palestine.”

Russia also supported the agreement, Interfax quoted Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying on Thursday.

European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen and the head of the European Council, Antonio Costa, both praised the diplomatic efforts of the United States, Egypt, Qatar and Turkiye and called it an opportunity for lasting peace.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas called the deal “a significant breakthrough.”

Prime Minister Keir Starmer praised the “tireless” diplomatic efforts of mediating countries and called the deal a “crucial first step.”
“This agreement must now be implemented in full, without delay, and accompanied by the immediate lifting of all restrictions on life-saving humanitarian aid to Gaza,” he added.

Under the US-brokered plan, Israeli hostages could be released as early as Saturday, and Israel’s military would begin the first phase of a partial withdrawal from Gaza within 24 hours of the deal taking effect, according to sources briefed on the agreement.