[Salon] Far-right Ministers Ben-Gvir, Smotrich Slam Netanyahu for Assenting to Trump's Gaza Truce Proposal




Far-right Ministers Ben-Gvir, Smotrich Slam Netanyahu for Assenting to Trump's Gaza Truce Proposal - Israel News

October 04 2025

Ben-Gvir threatened to pull his far-right party from Netanyahu's coalition if 'Hamas remains in existence' after the hostages are released. He and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich are meeting with Netanyahu to discuss the plan on Saturday night as protests take place across the country

Signs in protest of Ben-Gvir and Smotrich at protest for a hostage deal and against the war in Jerusalem in March. The sign reads: "The messiah vs. living Israeli citizens."
Signs in protest of Ben-Gvir and Smotrich at protest for a hostage deal and against the war in Jerusalem in March. The sign reads: "The messiah vs. living Israeli citizens." Credit: Olivier Fitoussi

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir warned Saturday that his party will leave the government if Hamas is still in power after all hostages are released, while Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich criticized Netanyahu's halt of the Gaza City offensive and cease-fire negotiations "not under fire" as a serious mistake.

In a statement to Prime Minister Netanyahu, Ben-Gvir said, "the central goal of the war ... is that the Hamas terrorist organization cannot continue to exist. It must be destroyed. 

'The Otzma Yehudit party has clearly informed the prime minister: If after the release of all hostages the Hamas terrorist organization continues to exist, Otzma Yehudit will no longer be part of the government," he continued.

Ben-Gvir added that while he would be happy to see the hostages returned, he cannot "in any way agree to a scenario in which the terrorist organization that inflicted the greatest disaster on the State of Israel would be reborn." 

In a post on X, Smotrich wrote that the decision is a "sure recipe for Hamas to buy time and for the erosion of Israel's position – both regarding the release of hostages in a single 72-hour phase and the primary goal of the war, which is the elimination of Hamas and the full demilitarization of Gaza." Smotrich and Ben-Gvir are expected to meet Netanyahu on Saturday night to discuss President Donald Trump's plan.

A statement from the Hostages and Missing Families Forum said: "The State of Israel has succeeded despite Smotrich, not because of him." 
Earlier on Saturday, hostage mother Einav Zangauker expressed concern that Smotrich and Ben-Gvir might try to sabotage the Trump cease-fire and hostage release plan. 

Hostage mother Einav Zangauker speaking at Begin Gate on Saturday.
Hostage mother Einav Zangauker speaking at Begin Gate on Saturday. Credit: Itay Ron

"These are critical days. Negotiation sabateurs are mobilizing to pressure Netanyahu – we must stand firm as a wall against them," she said in a statement at the IDF's headquarters in Tel Aviv, before the beginning of the weekly Saturday night protests. "We cannot abandon the negotiation arena to saboteurs. We cannot miss this opportunity. We cannot rely on Trump alone. I call on all citizens to join us in the streets."

Opposition leader Yair Lapid echoed her remarks: "When Shabbat ends and you hear many threats from Smotrich and Ben-Gvir, remember – they have no leverage. We will not allow them to derail the deal. An overwhelming majority in the Knesset and among the Israeli public support it. For three years, you've spoken about 'the will of the people' –this is what the majority wants." 

Yair Golan, chairman of the Democratic Party, added: "Our collective mission is to prevent any party – neither Hamas nor Netanyahu and his government – from sabotaging the Trump agreement."

The statements come as Israel prepares to resume indirect talks with Hamas in the coming days, following Hamas' response to the Trump plan and the U.S. president's reaction.

Trump's special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, and the president's son-in-law Jared Kushner are expected in Cairo on Saturday for more discussions. Egyptian sources told the Qatari Al-Araby channel that a new round of talks will begin on Sunday, with the participation of Israel's Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer and the head of the Shin Bet. According to Saudi outlet Al-Arabiya, a Hamas delegation is set to depart for Cairo on Saturday evening.

U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, right, and Jared Kushner at the White House on Monday.
U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, right, and Jared Kushner at the White House on Monday.Credit: Alex Brandon/AP 

Israeli officials estimate that the White House will pressure both sides to conclude negotiations quickly. Jerusalem officials believe Hamas' position is far from meeting U.S. expectations, and that Trump prefers advancing the initiative and pushing Hamas toward an agreement rather than seeing talks collapse. A political official said that Israel views the Trump plan as a multi-stage process, noting that the first stage – the hostage release – will proceed independently of subsequent stages. "There is agreement on the release of hostages, and after that, other matters will be discussed," the source said.

On Friday night, Hamas issued its response to President Trump's framework for ending the war and releasing hostages. Hamas indicated willingness to release all hostages held in Gaza, both living and deceased, as part of the Trump plan, emphasizing readiness for immediate negotiations on the plan's details. 

However, Hamas expressed reservations about some elements of the plan, preferring that Gaza's administration be transferred to an independent Palestinian body, rather than the "Palestinian committee" proposed in the plan, which would be managed by an international body led by Trump and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair. 

Hamas also stated that "other issues in Trump's proposal regarding Gaza's future and our people's rights depend on a national position to be discussed within a comprehensive Palestinian national framework."

Trump, in response to Hamas' statement, noted that discussions on the details of the deal are ongoing and stressed that "this is not about Gaza alone, this is about long sought PEACE in the Middle East."

In a later video statement, he called it a "big day" and assured that all parties would "receive fair treatment." He added, "We are close to peace in the Middle East" and thanked Turkey, Qatar, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia for their mediation efforts, expressing hope to see the hostages return home to their families.




This archive was generated by a fusion of Pipermail (Mailman edition) and MHonArc.