Far-right national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir’s party quit the government in protest at the ceasefire earlier this month [Getty]
Israel‘s far-right finance minister Bezalel Smotrich has withdrawn a threat to quit the government if Israel does not return to fighting in Gaza, several Israeli news sites reported on Monday.
Earlier this month, Smotrich opposed a ceasefire deal that aims to secure the release of nearly 100 Israeli prisoners held by Hamas in Gaza in exchange for Palestinians detained in Israeli jails, arguing it endangered Israeli security and stopped Israel from achieving its war goals.
Extremist national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and two other ministers from his nationalist-religious party Jewish Power resigned from Netanyahu’s cabinet over the deal.
Smotrich stopped short of resigning but said if Israel agreed to a full end to the war before achieving its aims in Gaza – which include the complete destruction of Hamas – he and his party, Religious Zionism, would also leave the coalition.
He has also called for the depopulation of Gaza and the reestablishment of Jewish settlements in the territory.
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu asked Smotrich to stay in the coalition to keep the right-wing government intact and the finance minister agreed, Israel’s Yedioth Ahronoth reported on Monday.
Under the multi-phase ceasefire deal, Israel will release almost 2,000 Palestinian prisoners in return for Hamas freeing 33 Israeli captives held in Gaza.
Negotiations will then begin to release the remaining 65 Israeli soldiers held by Hamas and complete the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.
Some of the families believe the second stage will not be implemented and that their relatives risk being abandoned. They have staged a series of protests against the current deal.
Israel’s 15-month war on Gaza has killed more than 47,300 Palestinians, according to the latest figures from local health authorities.
