Israeli hard-right ministers threaten to topple Netanyahu over Gaza ceasefire

Hard-right Israeli ministers have warned that they will not agree to a ceasefire in the war with Hamas in exchange for the release of a group of hostages. They stated that if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu calls off the offensive in Rafah, they will bring down the government. This was reported on Sunday by the Times of Israel website.

During a security council meeting, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir threatened to topple the government if an attack on Rafah did not occur. Rafah, located at the very south of the Gaza Strip, is the last stronghold of Hamas.

On Friday, Smotrich commented on the negotiations for a possible truce with Hamas. On the service X, he wrote:

"Mr. Prime Minister, it should be absolutely clear - you have no mandate for this! Surrendering to the Nazis is inconsistent with the basic principles of our government," wrote the Israeli finance minister.

Before these remarks, Israel announced that it would give "one last chance" to the negotiations being conducted under the auspices of Egypt before striking Rafah. The Times of Israel notes that the international community, including the United States, strongly opposes an attack on the city. For months, Washington has been pressuring Israel to avoid a ground offensive in Rafah and to opt for a more limited military operation instead.

The planned invasion carries the risk of a humanitarian disaster. Rafah is a refuge for about one million Palestinians who have fled from other parts of the Strip. Additionally, most humanitarian aid enters the enclave through its border crossing with Egypt.

Prime Minister Netanyahu announced on 7 April that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) will launch an offensive in Rafah, and a date has already been set. However, it now appears that the fate of the invasion, or its delay, will depend on the outcome of the ceasefire negotiations, according to the portal.