Smotrich threatens to topple Netanyahu over Gaza ceasefire

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Israel’s far-right finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, has issued a stark warning to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, vowing to dismantle the ruling coalition if military operations in Gaza are not resumed after the current ceasefire ends.

The threat, delivered on Monday, underscores deep divisions within Israel’s government following the recently brokered truce.

“If, God forbid, the war is not resumed, I will bring the government down,” Smotrich declared, signaling his dissatisfaction just a day after the ceasefire took effect. His party, an ultranationalist religious faction, has been a critical component of Netanyahu’s parliamentary majority. A departure would strip the government of its stability, likely leading to early elections.

Smotrich revealed he had secured assurances from Netanyahu and other top officials that military action would resume after the initial six-week ceasefire phase, during which 33 Israeli hostages held in Gaza are expected to return home, and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners are set to be released. “I insisted, demanded, and received an unequivocal commitment from the prime minister, the minister of defence, and the rest of my Cabinet colleagues — we will not stop this war a moment before realising its full goals,” he asserted.

The political crisis deepened with the resignation of Israel’s national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, who left the Cabinet over dissatisfaction with the ceasefire agreement.

Meanwhile, the emotional reunion of families with the first freed hostages from Gaza brought a poignant human element to the unfolding drama. In their first public statements, relatives of the released Israeli women expressed gratitude for the efforts leading to their loved ones’ freedom. They also urged the government to fully implement the ceasefire deal, stressing the ongoing need for national unity and support.

“Doron asked me to convey this message,” said Yamit Ashkenazi, sister of Doron Steinbrecher, one of the released hostages. Speaking from the hospital where the women were undergoing medical evaluations, Ashkenazi shared her sister’s plea: “Go out into the streets. We must carry out all the steps of the deal. Just as I was able to return to my family, everyone should return.”

The unfolding political and humanitarian narratives highlight the fragile balance Israel must maintain amid internal dissent and the complexities of ceasefire negotiations.