Smotrich threatens to 'apply sovereignty' in Gaza if Israeli captives are harmed

Israeli far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has said Hamas should be threatened with a gradual annexation of the Gaza Strip should any Israeli captives be harmed.

“The way to protect the [captives] is to inform Hamas that for every one of our kidnapped, God forbid, if something happens to them - we will apply sovereignty to five percent of the Gaza Strip on that day,” Smotrich said, speaking at the Institute for Haredi Strategy and Policy on Monday.

“Another kidnapped, another 5 percent; another kidnapped, another 5 percent; we have backup for that.”

Smotrich hinted that US President Donald Trump endorses the idea, adding that they should also cut off the flow of humanitarian aid to the war-torn Palestinian enclave.

“President Trump said tonight that the state of Israel can and should issue an unequivocal ultimatum: either the kidnapped are returned by Saturday, all of them without exception, or the gates of hell are opened,” the minister added.

Read more: Smotrich threatens to 'apply sovereignty' in Gaza if Israeli captives are harmed