Israel's far-right finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, has spoken out in favour of Israeli occupation of the entire Gaza Strip, in remarks to Israeli military radio. Smotrich, the leader of the Religious Zionist Party,

The full Israeli cabinet passed the agreement during a meeting that continued into the Jewish Sabbath, setting up the first reprieve in Gaza in over a year.

Once the guns fell silent, Palestinians celebrated in the streets of Gaza while Israelis streamed into Tel Aviv’s “Hostages Square” to await their return.