By James Mackenzie
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israel’s hardline National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said on Thursday he would resign from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government if it ratifies the ceasefire deal in Gaza, which he has strongly opposed.
Israeli media outlets reported earlier that the cabinet was expected to vote to ratify the agreement on Friday, but there has been no confirmation from the prime minister’s office.
“The deal that is taking shape is a reckless deal,” Ben-Gvir said in a televised statement, saying it would “erase the achievements of the war” by releasing hundreds of Palestinian militants and withdrawing from strategic areas in Gaza, leaving Hamas undefeated.
“If this irresponsible deal is approved and implemented, we the members of Jewish Power will submit letters of resignation to the prime minister,” he said, adding that he would, nonetheless, not seek to bring down the government.
The threat to quit came at the end of a day that saw ratification of the deal held up by what Netanyahu’s office said was Hamas reneging on parts of the agreement reached with Qatari and Egyptian mediators. However, U.S. officials said they believed the issue had been ironed out and the ceasefire would begin on Sunday, as planned.
Ben-Gvir this week urged Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who has described the deal as a “catastrophe,” to join him in a last-ditch attempt to prevent a ceasefire deal, which he described as a dangerous capitulation to Hamas.
Smotrich’s Religious Zionism party repeated its opposition on Thursday, threatening to quit the government if it did not go back to war to defeat Hamas after the first six-week phase of the ceasefire was completed.
The political tensions echo anger from some hostage families, who believe their own relatives risk being abandoned in Gaza and who have held a series of protests against the deal.
Under the multi-phase agreement, 33 hostages will be released in the first stage before negotiations begin to agree the release of the remaining 65 and the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. Some of the families believe the second stage will not be agreed.
“This deal leaves dozens of hostages behind in Gaza. It also sets the stage for the next massacre and future kidnappings of Israelis,” the Tivka Forum of Hostages’ Families said in a statement.
(Reporting by James Mackenzie; Editing by Deepa Babingtonm and Daniel Wallis)
