Israeli Far-Right Ministers Slam Netanyahu Over Gaza Deal

Far-right Israeli coalition members accused Prime Minister Netanyahu of whitewashing a U.S.-advocated deal to wind down the Gaza war. National Security Minister Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Smotrich threatened to quit the government if the deal proceeds, insisting on escalating military actions against Hamas instead.

A far-right Israeli coalition partner accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday of trying to "whitewash" a deal to wind down the Gaza war that is being advanced by U.S. President Joe Biden, and repeated a threat to quit the government.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir told his parliamentary faction that Netanyahu invited him to read the proposal but the premier's aides twice failed to produce the document. Any plan must entail toppling Hamas, Ben-Gvir said. Another hardline cabinet member, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who has also threatened to quit should Israel agree to the proposed deal, said the only thing to do was increase military pressure on Hamas.

"The dangerous proposal that President Biden spoke of was made by the war cabinet without authority and against the law, and it is not binding for the government of Israel and state of Israel," Smotrich said. (Writing by Dan Williams Editing by Peter Graff)