Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich sparked backlash after stating that bringing the hostages back from Gaza was not the most important goal of the government. The families of the hostages and several politicians criticized the statement, with the Hostage and Missing Families Forum expressing shame and accusing the government of giving up on the hostages. Negotiations to release the remaining hostages have stalled, with Hamas rejecting an Israeli proposal for a temporary ceasefire. Polls show that a majority of Israelis support ending the war if it means all the hostages would be released.