Israeli minister seeks support to oust Netanyahu as deal progresses

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir has asked a fellow far-right minister to join him in threatening the Israeli government’s collapse if the ceasefire and hostage deal with Hamas is reached.

Ben Gvir asked Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich to join him in telling Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that they would resign from the government because the resolution “is horrible.”

Netanyahu needs the support of both ministers’ parties in parliament to avoid the collapse of his alliance.

“Last year, through our political power, we successfully prevented this agreement from moving forward repeatedly,” Ben Gvir published this Tuesday (14) on X.

The minister said his resignation alone would not force Netanyahu to reconsider signing the Gaza deal – which is currently in its final stages of negotiation – but together with Smotrich, they could form a “force strong enough to make it impossible” for Netanyahu proceed.

Despite calling the negotiation a “catastrophe” for Israel’s national security, Smotrich did not threaten to resign from the government.

“Together, we must unequivocally and firmly inform the prime minister that if the agreement goes ahead, we will both withdraw from the government,” said Ben Gvir.

The two far-right ministers were allies before falling out over police funding.

Understand the conflict in the Gaza Strip

Israel has carried out intense airstrikes in the Gaza Strip since last year, after Hamas invaded the country and killed 1,200 people, according to Israeli counts.

Furthermore, the radical group holds dozens of hostages.

Hamas does not recognize Israel as a state and claims Israeli territory for Palestine.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly promised to destroy Hamas’ military capabilities and recover people detained in Gaza.

In addition to the air offensive, the Israeli Army carries out land incursions into Palestinian territory.

This caused much of Gaza’s population to be displaced.

The UN and several humanitarian institutions have warned of a catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, with a lack of food, medicine and the spread of diseases.

The Israeli population is constantly protesting against Netanyahu, accusing the prime minister of failing to reach a ceasefire agreement so that the hostages can be released.

This content was originally published in Israeli minister seeks support to oust Netanyahu as deal progresses on the CNN Brasil website.

Source: CNN Brasil

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