Netanyahu Accuses Opposition of Wanting to Surrender to Hamas

In a passionate speech to the Knesset on Monday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused the opposition of seeking to surrender to Hamas during the early stages of the ongoing war. The speech, which was reportedly unplanned, was delivered after Netanyahu canceled his testimony in a trial against him.

Netanyahu directed his remarks to the opposition, stating, "Most of you supported ending the war at a very early stage. What would have happened to us if I had surrendered to you? What situation would we have been in?" He emphasized his commitment to defeating Hamas and ensuring the safe return of hostages, aligning with US President Donald Trump on shared goals regarding Israel's war strategy.

Throughout his speech, Netanyahu faced disruptions from Knesset members, including Gilad Kariv of The Democrats, who accused him of lying. The Prime Minister remained focused on defending his position, insisting that security officials had advised the war cabinet to prepare for the possibility that not all hostages in Gaza could be brought home.

Tensions over hostage negotiations were further fueled earlier in the day when Eyal Kalderon, the brother of freed hostage Ofer Kalderon, interrupted Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s speech. Kalderon criticized Smotrich for blocking potential deals to bring the hostages back, shouting, "You tried to prevent this." In response, Smotrich reiterated his stance that Israel’s security and the well-being of all citizens must come first. He rejected the idea of giving in to "dangerous populism," adding that had his views been followed a year ago, all hostages would already be home.

Smotrich, who has been a vocal opponent of negotiating hostage deals, faced criticism from within the government. Former national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir resigned last month due to disagreements over the approach to the hostage situation. Smotrich also addressed the ongoing discussions regarding a possible inquiry into the events of October 7, stating that he had no confidence in the Supreme Court or an inquiry process during a time of war.