Opposition to ceasefire agreement: Ben Gavior’s party leaves Netanyahu’s government
Last Updated on January 20, 2025 6:53 am
The Otzma Yehudit party, led by the hardline Itamar Ben-Gavi, has withdrawn from Netanyahu’s coalition government, opposing the ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement with the Palestinian independence movement Hamas.
Ben-Gavi withdrew his party on Sunday, the day the Gaza ceasefire took effect. Earlier, on Friday, Ben-Gavi had threatened to leave the ruling coalition government.
The Times of Israel reported that the Gaza ceasefire agreement is being implemented from today. According to the agreement, Hamas will release 33 Israeli prisoners in the first phase. Similarly, 1,977 Palestinians imprisoned in Israeli prisons are to be released.
Earlier, Hamas and Israel agreed to a ceasefire agreement brokered by the United States, Egypt and Qatar on January 15.
Ben-Gavi described the Palestinians who will be released under the agreement as “terrorists.” The extreme right-wing Israeli minister told reporters that the Otzma Yehudit party, or Jewish Power, will no longer be part of the ruling coalition. However, his party will not try to topple Netanyahu’s government.
Not only that, Ben Gavir also said that if war breaks out again, they will return to the government.
Meanwhile, Netanyahu’s Likud party strongly condemned Ben Gavir’s threat, saying, “Anyone who breaks this government will be remembered forever and as an insult.”
Despite Ben Gavir’s departure, the ruling coalition remains in power with 62 seats in the 120-seat Knesset (parliament).
Earlier on Saturday, 24 ministers in the Israeli government approved the Gaza ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement. On the other hand, 8 others, including Ben Gavir and Bezalel Smotrich, opposed it.
According to local health authorities, more than 47,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza since October 7, 2023. Most of them are women and children. In addition, more than 110,700 have been injured.
Source: Anadolu