KIBBUTZ BE’ERI — Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich canceled his planned visit to Kibbutz Be'eri on Monday. The cancellation followed opposition from relatives of 32 Gaza hostages from the kibbutz, who protested against the minister's scheduled appearance on Sunday.

On Monday, Smotrich visited new neighborhoods under construction in Kibbutz Nir Oz. He posted a statement on X regarding the visit, writing, "This morning in the new neighborhood in Nir Oz, I met the new pioneers of the people of Israel. This is what victory looks like."

The controversy over the Be'eri visit arose after Smotrich gave an interview for Nadav Perry's podcast on Sunday. During the discussion on the conflict in Gaza, Smotrich said, "I think that without me, the war in Gaza would have ended even before Rafah. Had I not drawn a red line at that moment and told Netanyahu, 'there is no such thing,' we would still be negotiating with Hamas over one more hostage and then another."

Former Gaza hostage Or Levy posted a response to Smotrich on Instagram on Monday. Levy wrote, "For you, we are nothing more than collateral damage of your trolling. I said it, and I will shout it: Bezalel Smotrich, you are a shame of a minister, a shame of a citizen and a shame of a person."

The families of the hostages from Kibbutz Be'eri had organized their protest prior to Smotrich's announcement that he would not proceed with the visit to their community.