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Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has claimed that the hostages held in Gaza are home because of him, saying his opposition to an earlier deal was critical to bringing them back. His remarks drew sharp criticism from Danny Miran, whose son Omri was among the hostages.

In an interview on Nadav Perry's podcast on June 28, Smotrich said he drew a line with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during January 2025 negotiations, when a deal would have returned only eight hostages. "Had I not drawn a red line at that moment and told Netanyahu, 'there is no such thing,' we would still be negotiating with Hamas over one more hostage and then another," he said, as reported by the Jerusalem Post.

Coverage Comparison

Two Jerusalem Post articles, published a day apart, report on Smotrich's comments and the reaction from Danny Miran. The first, which appeared on June 29, focuses on Miran's criticism, quoting him directly from a radio interview. The second, dated June 28, presents Smotrich's own account of his role, based on his podcast appearance. Together, they provide both Smotrich's assertions and the rebuttal from a hostage's father.

Key Claims

  • Smotrich said that "all the hostages are here because of me," according to an interview with Nadav Perry, as reported by the Jerusalem Post.
  • Smotrich said he told Netanyahu in January 2025 that a deal to return only eight hostages was unacceptable, and that his objection prevented a prolonged negotiation.
  • The Jerusalem Post notes that Smotrich historically opposed prioritizing hostage negotiations, citing his February 2024 statement that freeing hostages was not the most important consideration, and that he opposed the October 2025 deal that returned the remaining hostages.
  • Danny Miran, whose son Omri was held in Gaza, responded on 103FM radio, saying Smotrich was "taking credit for something he did not do" and that "had we really depended on him, the hostages would not be here."
  • Miran also accused Smotrich of obstructing hostage release efforts and of opposing uniform compensation for returning hostages, saying Smotrich favored his own sector.

Perspectives

Bezalel Smotrich

The finance minister maintains that his firm stance against the January 2025 partial deal was necessary, arguing that accepting it would have prolonged the hostage crisis. He described his role as critical, saying "without me, the war in Gaza would have ended even before Rafah."

Danny Miran

The father of former hostage Omri Miran rejects Smotrich's account, calling him "the father of the hardhearted" and accusing him of lacking empathy. Miran also claimed that Smotrich and coalition members voted against uniform compensation for hostages, and he credited the return of hostages to broad support, not Smotrich's actions.

Conclusion

The exchange highlights a deep divide over how the hostages' release was achieved. While Smotrich presents himself as a decisive figure who prevented a bad deal, Miran's criticism reflects a view that Smotrich's conduct delayed releases and that his claims of credit are unfounded. Both accounts appear in the Jerusalem Post's reporting.