Israeli Ministers threaten to overthrow Netanyahu's government over Gaza cease-fire proposal

Ministers issued dueling threats on Sunday to leave the government as Israel negotiated a deal for the return of hostages held by Hamas and made preparations for a ground offensive in Rafah, further ratcheting up pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Far-right Israeli ministers threaten Netanyahu if Rafah not attacked

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich issued a stern warning, threatening to topple Netanyahu's government if it abandons plans to invade the southern district of Rafah and instead accepts Egypt's latest ceasefire proposal for the Gaza Strip.

In a strongly worded message, Smotrich conveyed, "If you decide to fly a white flag and cancel the order to conquer Rafah immediately to complete the mission of destroying Hamas and restore peace for the residents of southern Israel and all of the country’s citizens, and return our abducted brothers and sisters who are held hostage to their homes – then the government you head will have no right of existence."

The Minister labeled any acceptance of the Egyptian cease-fire proposal as a “humiliating surrender.”

Smotrich's rejection of the proposal was echoed by fellow hard-right Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, who tweeted that a “reckless deal equals the dissolution of the government.”

Egyptian cease-fire proposal 

An Egyptian intelligence delegation held talks with Israeli officials on Friday to discuss a proposed cease-fire deal in the Gaza Strip.

The new proposal includes Israel’s willingness to discuss the “restoration of sustainable calm” in Gaza after an initial release of hostages on humanitarian grounds, two Israeli officials stated.

Hamas confirmed on Friday that it received a new cease-fire proposal and will respond to it soon. The Palestinian group demands an end to Israel’s brutal offensive on the Gaza Strip in return for any hostage deal with Tel Aviv.

If Smotrich’s Party leaves the ruling coalition, Netanyahu depends on Gantz's Party 

In the November 2022 elections, Smotrich and far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir joined forces and ran together with another far-right party, gaining an impressive 14 seats in the Knesset (Israel’s parliament).

Should Smotrich's Religious Zionism Party withdraw from the ruling coalition, Netanyahu's government would lean on opposition leader Benny Gantz, head of the centrist National Unity Party, to maintain its grip on power.

Gantz threatens to topple Netanyahu's government if hostage deal with Hamas blocked

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government “will not have the right to continue to exist” if it blocks a proposed hostage swap with Hamas, War Cabinet Minister Benny Gantz said on Sunday.

War Cabinet Minister Benny Gantz, whose National Unity party joined the government days after the Hamas-led October 7 terror onslaught that triggered the ongoing fighting, said that although an IDF operation in Rafah “is important in the long struggle against Hamas, the return of our hostages — who were abandoned by the government on October 7 — is urgent and of far greater importance.”

“If a responsible outline is reached for the return of the hostages with the backing of the entire security establishment — which does not involve ending the war — and the ministers who led the government on October 7 prevent it, the government will have no right to continue to exist and lead the campaign,” Gantz said in a statement.

Source: Newsroom