• Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich expresses lack of confidence in Netanyahu’s Gaza strategy.
• Smotrich calls for an immediate and comprehensive military approach against Hamas.
• Over 61,300 Palestinians reported dead in Gaza since the start of the conflict in October 2023.
• Criticism mounts internationally regarding Israel’s military operations and humanitarian impact.
• Protests erupt in Tel Aviv against the government's war decisions, fearing hostage safety.

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has publicly stated that he has "lost faith" in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's approach to the ongoing conflict in Gaza, particularly criticizing the “gradual plan” to occupy the enclave. He advocates for a more aggressive strategy that includes immediate military action and the settlement of captured territory, emphasizing in a video posted on social media, "In the last cabinet meeting, I lost faith that the Prime Minister can and wants to lead the Israeli army to decisive victory," according to trtglobal and aa.

Netanyahu's plan, which involves displacing Palestinians from the north to the south of Gaza while aiming to exert pressure on Hamas rather than achieving outright victory, has drawn substantial criticism from both within Israel and from international observers. Opposition has mounted not only from Israeli political factions but also from military leaders who caution that this approach endangers hostages and Israeli soldiers, as noted by multiple reports, including those from trtglobal and scmp.

Since the conflict escalated in October, estimates suggest over 61,300 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, raising alarms about a potential humanitarian disaster. This staggering figure highlights the consequences of ongoing military operations and the precarious situation on the ground, as reiterated by aa and scmp.

Protests have erupted in cities like Tel Aviv, with demonstrators voicing concerns over the fate of hostages held by Hamas and demanding that the government prioritize their release. As public discontent grows, Netanyahu's position has become increasingly fraught with challenges from various quarters, further complicating the already tense political landscape, according to scmp and aa.