Jerusalem: Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced on Tuesday that the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip will continue until there is a large-scale departure of Palestinians from the region.

According to Anadolu Agency, Smotrich expressed that the conclusion of this military campaign is contingent upon achieving several strategic objectives. These include the dismantling of Syria, significantly weakening Hezbollah, neutralizing Iran's nuclear capabilities, eradicating Hamas from Gaza, and facilitating the exodus of hundreds of thousands of Gazans to other countries. Additionally, Smotrich emphasized the importance of returning Israeli hostages, either back to their homes or to burial sites in Israel.

During his address in the Eli settlement in the central West Bank, Smotrich asserted that these objectives reflect a broader consensus among the Israeli government, its citizens, and the military forces. He urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to take decisive actions to bolster Israel's security, cautioning against missing what he described as a critical opportunity.

The Israeli military resumed its offensive in Gaza on March 18, effectively ending a ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement with Hamas that had been in place since January 19. The conflict has resulted in the deaths of more than 52,300 Palestinians, predominantly women and children, due to the intensified Israeli operations since October 2023.

Furthermore, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants last November for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Gaza.