Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said on Tuesday (February 20) that Israel would not pay any price for the return of hostages still held in Gaza amid ongoing negotiations to secure their release.Talking about the 134 hostages who remain in Gaza, Smotrich said that their return was very important but that they could not be released at any cost. He said the way to free them was by ramping up the military pressure on Gaza and defeating Hamas, the armed group that governs the blockaded strip.His remarks drew rebukes from opposition leader Yair Lapid and minister Benny Gantz and angered some families of hostages who have been trying to up the pressure on the government to strike a deal. But shortly after the radio interview Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office published a statement echoing Smotrich’s position.