Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has threatened to quit Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s cabinet if it approves a ceasefire agreement with Hamas after more than 460 days of war in Gaza.
On Thursday night, Ben-Gvir condemned the agreement and said his ultra-nationalist Otzma Yehudit party, also known as the Jewish Power Party, would quit the government if the ceasefire agreement is approved. He said:
“If this irresponsible agreement is approved and implemented, the Jewish Power party will not be part of the government and will withdraw from the government.”
Ben-Gvir also said there must be a “complete halt” to the flow of humanitarian aid, fuel, electricity and water into the war-torn Palestinian enclave in order to force Hamas to release prisoners still being held captive. He also added:
“Only then will Hamas release our hostages without jeopardising Israel’s security.”
He also called on his counterpart, Israel’s Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, head of the Religious Party and another critic of the truce, to leave the cabinet if the truce is approved.
At least 87 Palestinians, including 21 children and 25 women, have been killed in Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip since a ceasefire agreement was announced to begin on Sunday.
Israeli strikes have killed 86 people and injured 258 since the ceasefire agreement was announced, according to Gaza Civil Defence.
According to CNN, 23 children are among the dead. The daily death toll in the immediate aftermath of the ceasefire announcement was the highest in the past week.
Long-awaited ceasefire
Israel and Hamas, mediated by the US and Qatar, signed a ceasefire on Thursday after 15 months of war. At the same time, Israel’s cabinet postponed a vote to approve the deal until Saturday evening. The deal’s entry into force is therefore delayed from January 19 to around noon on January 20, an aide to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken previously said the deal would take effect as scheduled, despite the postponed meeting of the Israeli government.
