Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (right) and Minister of Finance Bezalel Smotrich in the Knesset. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
Smotrich and Ben Gvir oppose truce plan that includes partial IDF pullback.
By David Brummer, World Israel News
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is struggling to secure support from his right-wing coalition partners for a proposed ceasefire deal with Hamas, i24NEWS reported on Sunday.
The deal includes a 60-day truce in Gaza and a partial withdrawal of Israeli forces from key areas, stirring sharp opposition within the government.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich met with Netanyahu on Saturday just after the prime minister returned from Washington.
Smotrich reiterated his firm rejection of any deal that delays the full defeat of Hamas.
He insisted that Israel must resume fighting immediately after the hostages are released.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir echoed Smotrich’s stance.
He flatly rejected any Israeli military withdrawal, warning it would jeopardize security.
On the Palestinian side, negotiations remain stuck.
A Hamas official claimed that Israel’s demand to maintain control over 40% of Gaza during the truce is blocking progress.
But an Israeli official dismissed that claim.
“If Hamas had accepted the Qatari proposal, we’d already be negotiating the end of the war,” the official said.
Adding to the controversy is a proposal to build a “humanitarian city” in Rafah.
The plan’s estimated cost — between $2.6 and $4 billion — has raised eyebrows within the government.
Some ministers accuse the army of inflating the costs to sway policy decisions.
Opposition leader Yair Lapid harshly criticized the government’s approach.
“Instead of easing the burden on Israeli families, Netanyahu is letting Smotrich and Ben Gvir fantasize to preserve his coalition,” he charged.
“We need to end this war and bring the hostages home,” Lapid added.
Indeed, the opposition leader has initiated proceedings to dissolve the Knesset and send Israelis to the polls.
Diplomatic and humanitarian pressure on Israel is growing, but Netanyahu faces a tough internal battle.
The diplomatic difficulties include a strained relationship with Egypt, as Cairo expressed its unease at the IDF’s plan for Rafah.
For now, no consensus on the ceasefire is in sight.
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