Israel’s far-right finance minister Bezalel Smotrich has joined his colleague Ben-Gvir in criticising the military’s announced “tactical pause” along a humanitarian aid corridor in southern Gaza, Al Jazeera reports.

In a post on X, Smotrich claimed that much of the aid getting into Gaza, where nearly all people are food insecure, is serving Hamas, thus prolonging the offensive.

The military’s announcement of a “tactical pause” for humanitarian aid, he said, showed it was wrongly prioritising international legitimacy over “victory”.

Smotrich said the only way to win the offensive was to occupy Gaza and impose a temporary military government until Hamas was rooted out.

 Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich speaks at a news conference. — Ronen Zvulun/Reuters
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich speaks at a news conference. — Ronen Zvulun/Reuters

Opinion

Editorial

Maritime alliance
Updated 01 Aug, 2026

Maritime alliance

AS the US-Iran war drags on, new battle lines are being drawn. The pro-US Gulf Arab monarchies and Iran have enjoyed...
Local governance
01 Aug, 2026

Local governance

INTERIOR Minister Mohsin Naqvi’s speech at a business summit on Thursday has stirred a hornet’s nest. His...
Murders in Balochistan
01 Aug, 2026

Murders in Balochistan

GOOD news is scarce in Balochistan. Seven labourers were abducted and gunned down in Turbat city recently. Four...
Expanding conflict
31 Jul, 2026

Expanding conflict

WITH neither of the belligerents willing to back down, and the theatre of conflict expanding geographically, the...
Spoils and spats
31 Jul, 2026

Spoils and spats

A FIGHT over assembly seats in Azad Jammu and Kashmir has laid bare what seem to be some deep resentments between ...
Unfair tax system
31 Jul, 2026

Unfair tax system

THE disclosure that the FBR collected nearly Rs1.9tr in sales and income taxes through electricity bills over the...