Ben-Gvir threatens to quit Netanyahu cabinet over Gaza truce deal

Far-right Israeli minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has threatened to quit the Benjamin Netanyahu cabinet if the Gaza ceasefire deal goes through.

Ben-Gvir has been one of the most vocal opponents of the deal.

On Tuesday, he called it a dangerous concession to the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas. The deal is said to be in its final stages.

Ben-Gvir urged fellow far-right minister Bezalel Smotrich to join him to discourage Netanyahu.

Addressing Smotrich, Ben-Gvir wrote on X, “Over the past year, through our political power, we successfully prevented this deal from moving forward time and time again.”

“Together, we must unequivocally and firmly inform the prime minister that if the deal goes forward, we will both withdraw from the government.”

“This move is our only chance to prevent [the deal’s] execution, and prevent Israel’s surrender to Hamas, after more than a year of bloody war, in which more than 400 IDF soldiers fell in Gaza,” Ben-Gvir stated.

Ben Gvir’s remarks drew sharp criticism from the relatives of the captives and the political opposition who have long accused Netanyahu of refusing to accept a ceasefire agreement to preserve his coalition.

Strongly criticizing the reported plans of the Israeli regime’s withdrawal from Gaza, Ben-Gvir said it was “capitulation” to Hamas.

He also slammed the release of Palestinian abductees held by the Israeli regime in exchange for the release of 33 hostages in the initial phase of the agreement.

Ben-Gvir called instead for a complete cut-off of humanitarian aid to Gaza, with the aim of the “total subjugation” of the Palestinian people.

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