Israeli Minister Says Freeing Hostages Not ‘Most Important’ Aim of the War

A far-right Israeli politician said on Monday that saving the hostages in Gaza was not Israel’s “most important goal” in its war with Hamas, further stoking the debate in Israel over its objectives for the war.

Bezalel Smotrich, the country’s powerful finance minister, suggested in a radio interview that ensuring that Hamas no longer ruled the Gaza Strip after its deadly 2023 attack in southern Israel was a higher priority.

“We have promised the Israeli people that at the end of the war, Gaza will no longer be a threat to Israel,” said Mr. Smotrich, who has called for building Jewish settlements in the Palestinian enclave. “We need to eliminate the problem of Gaza.”

Israel launched the war in Gaza after the Hamas-led attack with at least two aims: One was to destroy Hamas and restore Israelis’ sense of safety after roughly 1,200 people were killed in the surprise attack. Another was to bring back the more than 250 people captured in the assault.

Both goals have proved elusive despite the devastating Israeli campaign in Gaza, which has killed more than 50,000 people, according to Palestinian health officials, who have not said how many of the dead were combatants.

Hamas is demanding a permanent cease-fire in exchange for the release of any more of the remaining hostages. Israeli leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, have insisted they will not end the war before Hamas surrenders.