Israel's Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben Gvir, has expressed strong opposition to the Israel-Hamas ceasefire and hostage deal, stating that his party, the far-right Otzma Yehudit (Jewish Power) party, will withdraw from the governing coalition if the deal goes through. Ben Gvir believes that such a deal would send the wrong message to Hamas, indicating that they can resort to hostage-taking and attacks to achieve their goals.
Earlier this week, Ben Gvir had threatened to resign over the proposed deal and has urged Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a member of the Religious Zionism Party, to join him in opposing it. The support of both parties is crucial for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to maintain his coalition government.
If Ben Gvir's party, with its six legislative seats, decides to leave the coalition, Netanyahu would still have a narrow majority. However, if Smotrich's party, with seven seats, also withdraws its support, it would lead to the collapse of Netanyahu's government.
The political dynamics within the Israeli government are tense as the fate of the ceasefire and hostage deal hangs in the balance. Netanyahu is facing a delicate balancing act to ensure the stability of his coalition amidst growing dissent from within his own ranks.
