Smotrich: Netanyahu, Trump Committed to Removing Hamas from Gaza

FILE PHOTO: Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich attends an inauguration event for Israel's new light rail line for the Tel Aviv metropolitan area, in Petah Tikva, Israel, August 17, 2023. REUTERS/Amir Cohen/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich attends an inauguration event for Israel's new light rail line for the Tel Aviv metropolitan area, in Petah Tikva, Israel, August 17, 2023. REUTERS/Amir Cohen/File Photo
TT
20

Smotrich: Netanyahu, Trump Committed to Removing Hamas from Gaza

FILE PHOTO: Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich attends an inauguration event for Israel's new light rail line for the Tel Aviv metropolitan area, in Petah Tikva, Israel, August 17, 2023. REUTERS/Amir Cohen/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich attends an inauguration event for Israel's new light rail line for the Tel Aviv metropolitan area, in Petah Tikva, Israel, August 17, 2023. REUTERS/Amir Cohen/File Photo

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has said that he decided to remain in the government after becoming convinced that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the new Trump administration were committed to removing Hamas as a governing power from Gaza, including by force if necessary.

Smotrich, who leads an ultranationalist religious party, had voted against the ceasefire deal with Hamas but has remained in the governing coalition for the time being. His departure would rob Netanyahu of his parliamentary majority, setting the stage for the government’s collapse and early elections.

In an interview with The Jerusalem Post, Smotrich argued that the deal would have gone through whether or not he left the government, and said that while he believed that the deal was a mistake, the majority of his coalition was in favor, and he could not “impose his minority opinion” on the rest.

Smotrich has said that if Phase two of the deal includes an end to the war without achieving its goals, he would not just leave the government; he would topple it.

The most dangerous part of the deal is the idea that taking Israelis hostage paid off and was enough to “bring Israel to its knees,” Smotrich said in the interview published Friday. This could result in attempts to kidnap Israelis or Jews abroad, which could be done fairly easily, and could force Israel to pay a heavy price. Israel needs to ensure that the end result will be an end to Hamas – and as such, a deterrent against future hostage-taking.

Smotrich also criticized the length of the war, which he said, should have been far quicker.

Part of what prolonged it was the Biden administration’s “arms embargo” and its delay of shipment of D9 military bulldozers, which are crucial for Israel’s urban warfare tactics, said Smotrich.



Violence in Southern Syria Fueled by Tribal, Sectarian Tensions

A military training course for reconciliation factions within the Eighth Brigade, backed by Hmeimim, in Busra al-Sham, eastern Daraa (Archive – Ahrar Houran Gathering). 
A military training course for reconciliation factions within the Eighth Brigade, backed by Hmeimim, in Busra al-Sham, eastern Daraa (Archive – Ahrar Houran Gathering). 
TT
20

Violence in Southern Syria Fueled by Tribal, Sectarian Tensions

A military training course for reconciliation factions within the Eighth Brigade, backed by Hmeimim, in Busra al-Sham, eastern Daraa (Archive – Ahrar Houran Gathering). 
A military training course for reconciliation factions within the Eighth Brigade, backed by Hmeimim, in Busra al-Sham, eastern Daraa (Archive – Ahrar Houran Gathering). 

Amid escalating lawlessness and revenge killings in Syria’s Daraa province, the Internal Security Forces leadership has dismissed at least 200 personnel for committing “behavioral violations and transgressions inconsistent with the institution’s values and principles.”

In an official statement, authorities announced the launch of a comprehensive reform plan aimed at training staff and improving professionalism, pledging zero tolerance for misconduct that damages the security agency’s reputation or exceeds legal authority.

These measures follow growing unrest in Daraa and Suwayda, sparked by clashes at a checkpoint in Al-Masmiyah, north of Daraa, along the Damascus–Suwayda highway. Checkpoint personnel were accused of abuse, extortion, and arbitrary fees imposed on passing vehicles.

According to residents, many of the checkpoint guards are former members of the Eighth Brigade - once overseen by Russia and Military Intelligence - and have continued practices reminiscent of the old regime, including intimidation and extortion. After the government’s collapse, they were incorporated into the new security forces through tribal and family connections to avoid accountability for past crimes.

Locals say these abuses are often driven by tribal and sectarian rivalries, further eroding trust in the security apparatus.

On Tuesday, reinforcements from Damascus attempted to take control of the Al-Masmiyah checkpoint but were met with armed resistance, prompting authorities to close the highway to protect civilians. In Al-Sanamayn, security forces deployed to six locations after a surge in killings.

One grieving mother recorded a video plea to Syrian President Ahmada al-Sharaa, demanding justice for her son, who was shot dead while praying. She revealed that two of his brothers and their father had also been killed.

The Violations Documentation Office of the Ahrar Houran Gathering reported 17 assassinations by unknown gunmen in Al-Sanamayn since the regime’s fall. Meanwhile, Daraa 24 Network documented 38 killings in June alone - double the toll in May - including 23 civilians, with violence ranging from shootings to disputes and accidents involving weapons misuse.

According to Ahrar Houran, many of the killings are carried out by armed groups exploiting tribal conflicts once fueled by the previous regime, alongside frequent kidnappings, robberies, and sporadic abuses by security personnel.

The Internal Security leadership pledged to continue reforms, enforce discipline, and improve training to restore public trust, emphasizing that professionalism and respect for the law remain top priorities in rebuilding the security institution.