Channel 12 quoted Ben-Gvir on Saturday evening as saying, "In light of recent developments, I and the Otzma Yehudit (Jewish Power) faction clearly informed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that if Hamas continues to exist after all prisoners are released, we will no longer be part of the government."
He continued, "We will not be partners in a national defeat that will remain a stain of shame forever and could turn into a time bomb for the next massacre."
Ben-Gvir's threat comes amid sharp disagreements within the Israeli government coalition over US President Donald Trump's plan to end the Gaza war.
Ben-Gvir is one of the most prominent leaders of the far-right in Israel. He opposes any negotiation or agreement that would leave Hamas in the Gaza Strip, calling for continued military operations until the movement is "completely eliminated."
"fatal mistake"
For his part, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich considered Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's decision to halt the offensive on the Gaza Strip and enter into negotiations unconditionally on continued fighting a "grave mistake."
Netanyahu did not announce a halt to the ongoing war of extermination in the Gaza Strip, but issued a statement early Saturday morning stating that Tel Aviv was preparing to immediately implement the first phase of US President Donald Trump's plan to release Israeli prisoners in the Gaza Strip.
Despite this, the Israeli occupation army has killed and wounded dozens of Palestinians across the Gaza Strip, including children, since Netanyahu's statement.
"The prime minister's decision to halt the offensive in Gaza and begin negotiations for the first time without a fight is a grave mistake and a sure recipe for stalling by Hamas and further erosion of the Israeli position," Smotrich said in a post on the X platform.
He added that this decision "weakens the chances of releasing all prisoners at once within 72 hours, and also weakens the central goal of the war, which is to eliminate Hamas and completely disarm the Gaza Strip."
Smotrich, a member of the far-right in Israel, opposes any political settlement with Hamas, calling for continued military operations until "complete victory," as he put it.
Hamas approval
On Friday evening, Hamas said in a statement that it had submitted its response to the Trump plan for Gaza to mediators, announcing its agreement to the release of all Israeli prisoners, living and dead. It also reiterated its agreement to hand over the administration of the Strip to a Palestinian body of independent technocrats, based on Palestinian national consensus and Arab and Islamic support. However, Hamas stressed that the future of the Gaza Strip and the rights of the people will be discussed within a Palestinian framework.
Commenting on Hamas's response, Trump said in a tweet on his Truth Social account: "Based on the statement issued by Hamas, I believe they are ready for a lasting peace," calling on Tel Aviv to "stop bombing Gaza immediately."
On September 29, Trump announced a 20-point plan, including the release of Israeli prisoners in Gaza, a ceasefire, and the disarmament of Hamas.
During a press conference with the US President at the White House last Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced his "support for the Trump plan," believing it "achieves Israel's goals from the war."
Tel Aviv estimates that there are 48 Israeli prisoners in Gaza, 20 of whom are still alive. Meanwhile, approximately 11,100 Palestinians are languishing in its prisons, suffering from torture, starvation, and medical neglect, many of whom have been killed, according to Palestinian and Israeli human rights and media reports.
Since October 7, 2023, Israel, with American support, has been committing genocide in Gaza, leaving 67,074 martyrs and 169,430 wounded, most of them children and women, and a famine that has claimed the lives of 459 Palestinians, including 154 children.
