Freeing captives from Gaza not Israel's top priority, says far-right minister

Israel's far-right finance minister has said that securing the release of the remaining Israelis held captive in Gaza is not the government's top priority, triggering outrage among the prisoners' families.

In an interview on a right-wing radio station, Bezalel Smotrich said returning the captives was "not the most important goal" while the government focuses on continuing the devastating military assault on the Palestinian territory.

"We need to eliminate the Gaza problem," he was quoted as saying by Haaretz.

"We have a tremendous opportunity, and the excuses are gone: there's no Biden, no [Defence Minister] Gallant, and no former IDF chief of staff," he continued.

Smotrich's remarks were denounced by a campaign group representing the family members of the Israeli captives.

"The families have only one word this morning: shame," the Hostages and Missing Families Forum said.

"At least the minister is revealing the harsh truth to the public – this government has consciously decided to abandon the hostages."

Smotrich's comments came a day after Netanyahu ruled out any ceasefire talks until Hamas agrees to surrender its weapons.

Hamas has said it will release all the remaining 59 captives if Israel agrees to permanently end the war, but has refused to unilaterally disarm.

Amid the deadlock, far-right Israeli ministers have urged the government to further escalate the offensive in Gaza.

Smotrich last week demanded the military "open the gates of hell" and expel the Palestinians from Gaza.

The government's refusal to negotiate comes amid rising public support for a deal to release the remaining captives.

Polling last week showed that almost two-thirds of Israelis support negotiating an end to the war in return for their release.

Almost all the 147 Israeli captives freed over the past 18 months have been released via negotiations.

Thirty-three captives were returned during the recent ceasefire, which collapsed on 18 March after Israel reimposed its siege on Gaza and resumed its military assault.

Since then, Israeli forces have killed more than 1,800 Palestinians, mostly civilians, and wounded thousands of others.

The blockade is imposing starvation conditions on Gaza's 2.2 million residents, with aid agencies warning that rapidly dwindling supplies of food and aid threaten to tip the territory into famine.

Israel has killed 51,201 Palestinians in its 18-month assault on Gaza, according to the local health ministry. Thousands of others are believed to be trapped beneath the rubble.