Two prominent far-right Israeli ministers, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, have threatened to resign and bring down Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s governing coalition if he accepts the peace proposal for Gaza laid out by US President Joe Biden.
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In a speech at the White House on Friday, Biden unveiled what he described as a three-phase Israeli proposal to end the conflict in Gaza, which would pair a release of hostages with a “full and complete ceasefire.” The US president said that Hamas had been degraded to a point where it could no longer carry out attacks like the one seen on October 7, which triggered the current war.
However, Smotrich and Ben Gvir have made it clear that they reject an immediate ceasefire. Smotrich demanded that the fighting continue until the “destruction of Hamas and the return of all the hostages,” while Ben Gvir described the deal as “reckless” and “a victory for terrorism.” Both ministers have threatened to dissolve the government if Netanyahu implements the proposed plan.
Netanyahu himself has signaled that he is not ready for an immediate ceasefire, insisting that Israel will not end the war until it has achieved all of its goals, including the destruction of Hamas. However, the prime minister also stated that the “exact outline” of Israel’s proposal allows the country to maintain these principles.
The peace proposal has been widely welcomed by the international community, with the UN and other powers urging Israel and Hamas to accept it. Hamas has expressed a positive view of the plan and readiness to deal with any proposal based on a permanent ceasefire.
Despite this, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant has warned that Israel will not accept any deal that allows Hamas to rule over Gaza, and is considering options for a “governing alternative to Hamas.” Hamas, on the other hand, has made it clear that it will not accept any other group governing Gaza.
The White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby has said that the administration is currently waiting for an official response from Hamas on the Israeli ceasefire proposal, and has “every expectation” that Israel would agree if Hamas does.
Netanyahu is also facing pressure from protesters demanding his resignation and early elections, as well as from opposition leader Yair Lapid, who has offered to back the prime minister in accepting the proposal.
As the conflict approaches its ninth month, with more than 36,000 people killed and over 200 taken hostage, Netanyahu’s government is facing growing international calls to end the war in Gaza.
Credit: CNN
