Accusation Against Israeli Finance Minister for Preventing Son from Going to Gaza

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich left the hall of the "Israel Hayom" newspaper conference held annually after some attendees harshly criticized him, accusing him of neglecting his duties towards the families of prisoners in Gaza. One attendee accused him of "not allowing his son to go fight with the reserve forces," yet Smotrich refused to respond to the allegations directed at him. One of those present said, "Your son has not been drafted, my son is a soldier in Gaza - you are a disgrace, how can you sit here and sleep at night? How can you sit here and choose not to see the reality we live in?" Smotrich is known for his hardline positions regarding the ongoing war against Hamas and had threatened Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to dismantle the government and withdraw from it if a permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip was announced. Smotrich is considered an advocate for giving up all objectives, including the return of hostages, in pursuit of the primary goal of the war.