Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has issued a stark ultimatum, threatening to bring down the government if it does not initiate a full occupation of the Gaza Strip. The far-right minister condemned the recently agreed ceasefire and prisoner exchange deal, describing it as a “very serious mistake” and accusing the Israeli government of “surrendering to Hamas.”
The ceasefire agreement, which was set to take effect at 8:30 a.m. local time on Sunday, was delayed by several hours after Israel accused Hamas of stalling the release of a list of captives. The agreement eventually came into force at 11:15 a.m. local time (09:15 GMT).
Smotrich, a member of the far-right cabinet, stated in an interview with Army Radio that Israel must occupy Gaza and establish a temporary military government as a means of defeating Hamas. He went further, threatening to overthrow the government if it fails to take decisive action to regain control over the entire Gaza Strip.
“I will overthrow the government if it does not return to fighting in a way that leads to us taking over the entire Gaza Strip and governing it,” Smotrich declared.
This statement follows a decision earlier in the day by far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who announced his party’s withdrawal from the ruling coalition in protest over the ceasefire agreement. Despite Ben-Gvir’s departure, the Israeli government remains intact, with 62 seats in the 120-member Knesset.
The Gaza ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement was approved by 24 ministers in the government, with eight rejecting it. Meanwhile, the conflict in Gaza has caused widespread devastation. According to local health authorities, nearly 47,000 people, predominantly women and children, have been killed since the Israeli military operation began on October 7, 2023. The ongoing violence has also left more than 110,000 others injured, with thousands of individuals still missing.
The crisis has prompted significant international concern, with the International Criminal Court issuing arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity. In addition, Israel faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice in connection with its actions in Gaza.
As the situation continues to evolve, the Israeli government’s stance on Gaza remains a deeply divisive issue within the country and on the global stage.
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