Photo: Detaly
Israel’s Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir has called on members of the government to vote against the ceasefire and hostage deal with Hamas that was recently approved by the political-military cabinet. In his video message, the minister expressed serious concerns about the part of the agreement that provides for the release of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for Israeli hostages taken by Hamas on 7 October 2023, Cursorinfo reports.
“Everybody knows that these terrorists will try to do harm again, will try to kill again,” he said, expressing his fears.
Ben-Gvir also warned that his far-right party, Otsma Yehudit, would leave the coalition if the agreement with Hamas is approved. “I call on my friends from the Likud and Religious Zionism parties – it’s not too late. We still have a cabinet meeting. We can stop this deal. Join me, we can do it,” the minister said.
The final discussion of the agreement is scheduled to take place at a meeting of the full cabinet shortly. The agreement is due to enter into force on Sunday at 12:15 p.m., and the first of the 33 hostages are to be released at 4 p.m. on the same day.
