Hamas on Tuesday issued an official statement warning that Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich's morning declarations on completing Israeli control over Hebron amount to a political and operational escalation of unprecedented scale, which the group said aims to entrench the occupation and advance annexation. The statement was released via Hamas media channels.
Hamas's official response arrived Tuesday afternoon, calling Smotrich's morning statements a 'political and operational escalation of unprecedented scale' aimed at entrenching occupation, expanding control over Hebron and its surroundings, and accelerating annexation of the entire West Bank. The group accused the finance minister of pursuing a 'colonialist project' to impose Zionist sovereignty and called on the international community and the UN to act urgently to block 'fascist occupation policy.'
Smotrich, who under coalition agreements holds authority over civilian affairs in Judea and Samaria, has not yet publicly detailed specific new measures for Hebron. His office did not immediately respond to the Hamas statement.
The warning comes amid heightened coalition tensions over a reported Gaza deal, on which Smotrich has voiced strong opposition (The Zioneer, June 15). Hamas's statement matches its established rhetorical pattern but is notable for framing the Hebron issue as a peak escalation rather than a routine political dispute.
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