A minister in Israel’s right-wing Likud party has threatened to resign if the country withdraws from the Philadelphi corridor, as outlined in phase one of the ceasefire agreement. Amichai Chikli, the minister of diaspora and combating antisemitism, made the announcement, becoming the first Likud party member to take such a stance.
The Philadelphi corridor, a narrow strip of land along the Egypt-Gaza border, has been a contentious issue in the ceasefire negotiations. Chikli emphasized Israel’s withdrawal from this area as the primary reason for his resignation threat.
In a social media post on Thursday, Chikli stated, “I hereby undertake that if, God forbid, there is a withdrawal from the Philadelphi Axis (before the war goals are achieved), or if we do not return to fighting in order to complete the war goals – I will resign from my position as a government minister.”
Although Chikli is the first Likud minister to formally announce his resignation threat, as a minister in the Knesset, Israel’s parliament, he will not have a direct vote on the agreement. The Israeli cabinet is set to meet on Friday morning to approve the ceasefire and hostage release deal.
Prior to Chikli’s statement, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s far-right Religious Zionism Party also issued a threat to leave the government if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu does not resume military action in Gaza following the initial phase of the ceasefire-hostage agreement.
The Religious Zionism Party, a significant member of Netanyahu’s governing coalition, could potentially cause the prime minister to lose his majority if they follow through with their ultimatum. Should Netanyahu accede to the party’s demands, the ceasefire agreement may face collapse before it is due to take effect on Sunday.
