Former hostage Or Levy launched a scathing attack Sunday evening against Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich following remarks the minister made earlier in the day, accusing him of obstructing hostage deals and declaring that, had Smotrich’s policies prevailed, the hostages would still be in captivity.

Levy’s criticism came after Smotrich said in an interview that “thanks to” his policies, all of the hostages who have been freed so far had returned home.

In an unusually blunt social media post, Levy wrote:

“If, when you say ‘thanks to you,’ you mean that hostages were murdered while you torpedoed hostage deals, then yes. That’s what gaslighting propaganda is called. If it had been up to you, we still wouldn’t have come home today—for you, we’re collateral damage to your madness. I’ve said it before, and this time I’ll shout it: Bezalel Smotrich, you are a disgrace as a minister, a disgrace as a citizen, and a disgrace as a human being.”

Levy’s comments were a direct response to Smotrich’s appearance on journalist Nadav Perry’s podcast on the All In network, where the finance minister argued that his steadfast approach had been responsible for securing the release of the hostages who have returned from Hamas captivity.

The exchange follows previous public criticism by Levy of Smotrich. About two months ago, Levy condemned the minister after Smotrich said that forming a government with Mansour Abbas was “more serious than the October 7 massacre.”

Levy called that comparison “the cheapest and lowest thing that can be done.”

Reflecting on the October 7 attacks, Levy said they represented “perhaps the greatest disaster that has ever happened to us as a country—not only because it happened to me, but objectively as well.”

He continued by expressing outrage that, less than three years later, people were already minimizing the tragedy.

“And who’s minimizing it?” Levy asked. “Bezalel Smotrich.”

Levy went on to criticize the minister’s role in government, saying, “This is a minister in a government that’s supposed to protect us and keep us safe, and who wants to run again in another 170 days. When these things come from within our own home, what will people abroad say? What will Europeans say? They’ll say it never happened. Is that what we need—denial of October 7? Because ministers in our own government are the first to suggest it wasn’t a massacre. So how can we expect the world to stand with us? And if it’s not even considered a national tragedy, then it’s all just a mistake. Of course I’m furious.”