ISRAELI hardline minister Itamar Ben Gvir has stepped down from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government following a ceasefire agreement with Hamas in Gaza.
His resignation, along with other ministers from his Jewish Power (Otzma Yehudit) party, was submitted on Sunday in protest against the deal.
The ceasefire agreement has been criticised by the Jewish Power party, labelling it a surrender to Hamas. The party expressed discontent over what it termed as the release of hundreds of prisoners and the undermining of Israel’s military achievements in Gaza.
While the resignation does not dismantle Netanyahu’s coalition or directly impact the ceasefire, it weakens the stability of the government.
Despite stepping down, the Jewish Power party clarified that it has no intention of toppling Netanyahu’s administration.
Ben Gvir hinted at the possibility of returning to the coalition should the war in Gaza resume in the future. His departure underscores the growing tension within the government over how to address the ongoing conflict.
Hamas, meanwhile, has identified three hostages it plans to release, potentially signalling the commencement of the delayed ceasefire. Israel had insisted on receiving the names of hostages before halting its military operations.
The release of this information marks a significant step forward after hours of delay.
The war in Gaza, which began on October 7, 2023, has taken a devastating toll. Over 46,000 lives have been lost in Gaza, and hundreds of Israeli soldiers have also died in the conflict. The fighting has caused immense suffering on both sides, with calls for peace growing louder despite persistent tensions.
