Far-right minister threatens to quit Israeli government over Gaza ceasefire

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Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said late Thursday that he would remove the Jewish Power party from the government of Benjamin Netanyahu if the government implements the ceasefire agreement in Gaza Withdraw.

Mediators said on Wednesday that Israel and Hamas have reached a multi-stage deal to stop the 15-month-old war and release the 98 hostages still held in Gaza.

However, Bengvir and his ultra-nationalist ally, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, have repeatedly threatened to leave Netanyahu’s government if it accepts a deal to end the war.

Ben-Gweil reiterated the threat on Thursday but said his party could return to government if the war subsequently resumed.

Israeli officials said Netanyahu’s cabinet will meet on Friday to discuss ratifying a Gaza ceasefire deal, after Prime Minister Netanyahu postponed the meeting after accusing Hamas of backtracking on the agreement.

The departure of Jewish forces would give Netanyahu’s coalition a two-seat majority in the Knesset.

It would also put pressure on Smotrich’s Religious Zionist party to quit Netanyahu’s government, a move that could cost the veteran prime minister his majority.

This is a development story