Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich ignited fierce backlash on Sunday after publicly stating that returning the hostages held by Hamas in Gaza is “not the most important” goal of the Israeli government.

In an interview with Radio Galey Israel, the far-right minister asserted that while rescuing the 59 remaining hostages is “a very important goal,” it is secondary to defeating Hamas and ensuring that another October 7-style attack can never happen again.

“We have to say the truth: returning the hostages is not the most important thing,” Smotrich said. “If you want to destroy Hamas so that there can’t be another October 7th, you need to understand that there can’t be a situation where Hamas remains in Gaza.”

His remarks drew immediate condemnation from families of the hostages, who accused the government of abandoning their loved ones.

“The families have no words this morning except shame,” said the Hostage Families Forum in a statement. “The minister is at least revealing the hard truth to the public—this government has deliberately decided to give up on the hostages.”

“Smotrich—history will remember how you closed your heart to your brothers and sisters in captivity and chose not to save them,” the group added.

Hamas, designated as a terrorist organization by Israel, the United States, and the European Union, has demanded that Israel end its military campaign in Gaza and withdraw its forces in exchange for the release of the hostages. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly rejected those terms, saying the war will not end until Hamas is dismantled.