Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, speaking at the Jerusalem Conference of the 'BeSheva' newspaper, addressed the government's decision regarding fighting in the Gaza Strip, saying: 'We are finally going to capture the Gaza Strip. We will stop being afraid of the word 'occupation'.' He added: 'Once the ground operation begins, there will be no withdrawal from captured territories, even in exchange for hostages. The only way to free the hostages is to defeat Hamas. Any withdrawal will bring about the next October 7.' According to him, 'The hostages are being harmed every moment they are held by Hamas. Israel is doing everything to protect them.'