Far-right minister threatens to quit Israeli government over Gaza ceasefire deal

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Israel’s far-right national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said on Thursday evening he would pull his Jewish Power party out of Benjamin Netanyahu’s government if it implemented the Gaza ceasefire deal.

Mediators said on Wednesday that Israel and Hamas had agreed a multiphase deal to halt the 15-month-old war and free the 98 hostages still held in Gaza.

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However Ben-Gvir and his ultranationalist ally, finance minister Bezalel Smotrich, have repeatedly threatened to leave Netanyahu’s government if it accepts an agreement that ends the war.

Ben-Gvir repeated that threat on Thursday, but said his party could return to the government if it subsequently resumed the war.

Netanyahu’s cabinet will gather on Friday to discuss approval of the Gaza ceasefire deal, according to an Israeli official, after the premier previously delayed the meeting, accusing Hamas of backtracking on the agreement.

The departure of Jewish Power would leave Netanyahu’s coalition with a two-seat majority in Israel’s parliament.

It would also pile pressure on Smotrich’s Religious Zionism party to pull out of Netanyahu’s government, a move that would be likely to cost the veteran premier his majority.

This is a developing story