Finance Minister Betzalel Smotrich revealed Thursday that President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, told him shortly after his appointment that he would not allow Hamas-controlled Gaza to remain a threat to Israeli communities, recounting an emotional conversation that took place immediately after Witkoff visited Gaza and viewed footage of the October 7 massacre.

Speaking at MK Ohad Tal’s “Conference of Decision,” Smotrich shared details of the conversation, which he said occurred after Witkoff was appointed as President Trump’s envoy to Israel and just one day after the envoy toured Gaza and watched the graphic footage documenting the atrocities committed during the October 7 Hamas attack.

According to Smotrich, Witkoff was deeply shaken by what he had witnessed.

“When Witkoff was appointed, I met with him together with Ron Dermer,” Smotrich said. “The day before, he had been in Gaza, where they showed him the October 7 atrocity footage. He was still under the terrible impression of that video, and he told me, ‘Betzalel, I will not let two million Nazis live next to your children along the border.’”

Smotrich also addressed Israel’s ongoing military campaign in both Gaza and Lebanon, arguing that territorial losses are the only language Israel’s enemies understand.

“There is only one thing that hurts the enemy—land,” he declared. “Anyone who attacks us will lose territory forever. We need to establish a security zone in Lebanon that will remain in place for years.”

{Matzav.com}