Bezalel Smotrich says he considered resigning after Oct . 7 , asserts he got hostages home

What Happened

In an interview on the Geekonomy podcast on Tuesday, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich stated that he had considered resigning about two months after the October 7 Hamas attack, but concluded he could find nothing wrong in his behavior. He cited his past opposition to the Oslo Accords and the Gaza disengagement, and a period of Shin Bet detention, as evidence of his consistent stance. Smotrich also claimed that hostages returned from Gaza 'thanks to him,' arguing that without his insistence in discussions with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, negotiations would still be ongoing. He made this assertion despite having voted twice against a hostage release deal. The October Council, a group representing families of those killed on October 7, condemned his remarks, saying victims were murdered on his watch. Former hostage Or Levy and Ziv Abud, partner of ex-hostage Eliya Cohen, also publicly denounced Smotrich's statement, with Levy saying 'had it been up to you, we would still not have returned.'

Key Actors

Why It Matters

Smotrich's comments highlight deep internal divisions in Israel over accountability for the October 7 failures and the handling of the hostage crisis. His far-right stance—claiming credit for hostage returns while opposing the deals that secured them—underscores the tension between hardline security policies and public demands for captive recovery. This could further erode trust in the Netanyahu government and threaten coalition stability.

Watch For

Further reactions from other coalition members, opposition leaders, or the Prime Minister's office; potential protests or calls for Smotrich's resignation from hostage families or the public; and whether these disputes impact ongoing or future hostage negotiations and ceasefire talks.