Netanyahu is trying to walk a tightrope between avoiding new problems with the ICJ and new problems with Smotrich threatening to topple his coalition.
IDF Chief Zamir opposed soldiers distributing aid, to which Finance Minister Smotrich responded, "The IDF doesn’t choose its own missions."
The political leadership - including the prime minister, defense minister, and chief of staff - prefers to exhaust efforts toward a hostage deal.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich addressed Shin Bet employees in a letter on Tuesday, following the Monday affidavit submitted by the agency's chief.
Smotrich said that while returning the hostages is an important goal, destroying Hamas is more important.
Smotrich also quoted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Saturday night statements in which the Israeli leader said, "the war will not end until we destroy Hamas in Gaza."
The minister made the remarks following the revelation that a Shin Bet official arrested on suspicion of leaking classified information.
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