Sources close to Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich described his disappointment with the proposal led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and approved by the Cabinet. They stated, "The proposal might sound good but it's more of the same. This is not an operation to conquer Gaza, establish full military control and achieve decisive victory – the only way to ensure victory and return the hostages – but rather a limited and dangerous operation whose sole purpose is to bring Hamas back to the negotiating table." According to them, "This is not one of the war's objectives. Once again, we have extensive reserve mobilization, and at the critical moment we'll withdraw from the area after dozens of heroes killed and without real achievements. This decision is neither moral nor Zionist."