Ben-Gvir threatens to leave government over ‘horrific’ hostage deal

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir threatened to pull his Otzma Yehudit Party from the ruling coalition if Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu goes through with an emerging ceasefire-hostage deal with Hamas.

He called on Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, leader of the Religious Zionism Party, to join him in resigning if the agreement is formalized, admitting that “the power of Otzma Yehudit is not enough in the current composition of the government to serve as leverage to prevent the deal, and our resignation alone will not stop its implementation.”

Smotrich on Monday called the developing deal with Hamas a “catastrophe” for Israel’s security, stressing that his party would not vote to approve it.

Ben-Gvir urged Smotrich to work together to convey to Netanyahu “in a clear and resolute manner that if the deal goes through, we will resign from the government.”

In a lengthy Hebrew X post on Tuesday, Ben-Gvir called the emerging deal “horrific,” describing it as involving releasing hundreds of terrorists, withdrawing the Israel Defense Forces from key areas of Gaza and returning terrorists to the Strip, effectively undoing the achievements of the war.

He argued that the deal will not secure the release of all hostages and may lead to the deaths of many Israeli civilians.

Ben-Gvir urged Netanyahu to take stronger actions against Hamas to ensure Israel’s security and prevent the deal’s implementation.