Accra:Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich expressed distrust towards Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's assurances that Egypt has no intention of attacking Israel. Smotrich warned that Egypt could lose the Sinai Peninsula if it were to launch an attack.

According to Anadolu Agency, Smotrich, who leads the far-right Religious Zionism Party, made these comments on Monday during an interview with the Israeli platform Ali Express. He questioned the reliability of Egypt's assurances and suggested that Israel should focus on Egypt's military capabilities rather than its declared intentions, especially in light of recent events.

Smotrich also suggested that Israel should annex areas currently occupied by its military in southern Lebanon. He argued for the annexation up to the lines where Israeli forces are presently positioned and indicated that Israel would respond to any Hezbollah attack by advancing toward Beirut.

Furthermore, Smotrich called for Israel to take control of the Gaza Strip and encourage the displacement of its approximately 2.4 million Palestinian residents. He proposed framing this initiative internationally as a solution to the refugee issue, despite the ongoing military offensive in Gaza that has resulted in devastating casualties and infrastructure damage.

These statements come as Israel approaches its general elections scheduled for October 27, during a period of heightened political campaigns and discussions regarding the country's security policies and territorial goals.