"Either the hostages return, or we resume fighting," said National Unity head Benny Gantz at a conference at the Institute for Haredi Strategy and Policy on Tuesday.
"As I understand it, this ceasefire, at its core, is about the release of the hostages. And if the release of the hostages does not take place, then there is no reason for the ceasefire anyway. Therefore, the situation, as far as I am concerned, is binary. Either the hostages return, or we resume fighting. It's that simple."
He added that everyone must be returned, down to the last hostage, especially given that it is impossible to guarantee that those alive today will still be alive tomorrow.
At the same conference, shortly before the political and security cabinet meeting, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said, "For every one of our hostages who - God forbid - is harmed, we will impose sovereignty over five percent of the territory of the Gaza Strip. We have full backing from President Trump."
Smotrich said Hamas should be given an ultimatum: "Cut off electricity and water, stop humanitarian aid, open the gates of hell."
Energy and Infrastructure Minister Eli Cohen (Likud), a cabinet member, told Galei Yisrael, "Anyone who thinks he can blackmail Israel with such and such tricks - it won't happen. We adhere to Trump's words about the release of all the hostages and embrace them. I actually see the fact that they are saying they will not abide by the agreement - this is already a violation of the deal."
Responses to emigration of Gazans
Labor Party chairman Yair Golan, said "transferring Gazans outside of the Strip is an idea that is anti-Judaism and anti-Zionism, it is imperative to stand against it and ensure that it does not become normalized."
In response, the chairman of the 'National Unity party, Benny Gantz, said "if someone emigrates voluntarily, I do not see anything inhumane in that."