Ben-Gvir, leader of the far-right Jewish Power party, said in a post on the X platform that the escalation of negotiations over what he called "reckless deals" is encouraging Hamas to carry out more kidnapping operations.
"Last night, this cost us the life of an Israeli soldier who was killed during a kidnapping attempt," Ben-Gvir claimed.
On Wednesday evening, the Israeli occupation army announced the death of one soldier and the serious injury of another in an attack carried out by the Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, in the city of Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip.
He also acknowledged the deaths of approximately 40 soldiers and the injury of dozens more since resuming his aggression on Gaza on March 18, following his unilateral withdrawal from the ceasefire agreement.
Addressing Netanyahu, Ben-Gvir said, "Stop negotiating with a murderous terrorist organization and stop seeking deals that will revive and strengthen it."
Referring to rumors about efforts to conclude new normalization agreements with Israel, the Israeli Minister of National Security stated that "the lives of soldiers and settlers in the south are more important than any normalization or economic interests."
In his letter to Netanyahu, Ben-Gvir stressed the need to issue direct orders to "completely crush Hamas," saying, "We cannot afford to lose any more soldiers in reckless deals."
Ben-Gvir strongly opposes any prisoner exchange or ceasefire agreement in Gaza, and explicitly calls for reoccupying the Strip, building settlements on its land, and displacing its indigenous population.
The families of Israeli prisoners are pressing their government hard to conclude a prisoner exchange and ceasefire deal, fearing for the lives of their sons, who have been held in Gaza since October 2023.
Tel Aviv estimates there are 50 Israeli prisoners in Gaza, 20 of whom are still alive. Meanwhile, more than 10,400 Palestinians are languishing in its prisons, suffering torture, starvation, and medical neglect, many of whom have died, according to Palestinian and Israeli human rights and media reports.
These tough Israeli positions come as indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas have been ongoing in the Qatari capital, Doha, since Sunday, mediated by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States, in an attempt to reach a prisoner exchange agreement and ceasefire.
On Wednesday, Hamas announced its agreement to release 10 living Israeli prisoners, as part of what it described as "flexibility" toward reaching an agreement on Gaza, citing Israeli intransigence.
She pointed out that "there are essential points that remain under negotiation, most notably: the flow of aid, the occupation's withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, and the provision of real guarantees for a permanent ceasefire."
Also on Wednesday, US President Donald Trump said there was a "chance" this week or the week after to reach an agreement on a ceasefire in Gaza and a prisoner exchange.
Since October 7, 2023, Israel, with American support, has been committing genocide in Gaza, including killing, starvation, destruction, and displacement, ignoring international calls and orders from the International Court of Justice to halt it.
This war left more than 195,000 Palestinians dead or wounded, most of them children and women, and more than 10,000 missing. Hundreds of thousands were displaced, and famine claimed the lives of many, including dozens of children.
