When the grown-ups were trying to hammer out a truce, Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir was apparently off in a corner drawing battle plans. While the Israeli government was busy approving the first phase of a peace deal to end the conflict in Gaza – a deal that promised a ceasefire and the release of hostages – Ben-Gvir was among the vocal opposition, choosing to vote against it [1], [2], [5]. For those hoping for an extended breather, his message was stark: “Now that we have returned the hostages, we must return to war and open the gates of hell upon Gaza.”
So much for a peace deal [3].
A Hardline Stance Amidst Hope for Peace
The peace deal, backed by significant international effort, was designed to bring relief after what had been a devastating period, involving the release of hostages captured during the October 7, 2023, attacks and a ceasefire in Gaza [4], [5]. The sheer relief and even “jubilation” that met the announcement across both Israel and Gaza highlighted just how desperately many desired a pause [5]. But for Ben-Gvir, this temporary cessation of hostilities was merely a speed bump on the road to what he views as the ultimate objective: the complete dismantling of Hamas [6].
Conditional Loyalty, Unconditional War
He’s not just voting against the grain; he’s actively threatening to upend the political apple cart. Ben-Gvir has repeatedly stated he would withdraw his party’s support from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition if Hamas is not “dismantled” [1], [6], [7]. This isn’t just a political bluff; it’s a real threat hanging over the government. It would likely plunge the Israeli government into a fresh crisis, demonstrating a commitment to his hardline ideology over coalition stability. In his world, peace isn’t the goal; victory, as defined by an uncompromising military offensive, is the only acceptable outcome. Apparently, some people just prefer the taste of brimstone to olive branches.
Sources & Footnotes
- https://www.newarab.com/news/ben-gvir-threatens-quit-government-if-hamas-not-dismantled ↩
- https://www.arabnews.com/node/2618352/middle-east ↩
- https://www.belgrade-news.com/townnews/politics/israel-s-ben-gvir-wants-netanyahu-to-restart-gaza-war-after-hamas-idf-clashes-violence/article_9eed0a28-763d-4a00-ac70-dbde8bdb5d80.html ↩
- https://www.nbcnews.com/world/israel/ceasefire-israel-hamas-gaza-palestinians-trump-netanyahu-qatar-rcna217806 ↩
- https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c75q2w4g4y5o ↩
- https://www.timesofisrael.com/ben-gvir-says-he-gave-pm-deadline-to-dismantle-hamas-enact-death-penalty-for-terrorists/ ↩
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_zZpebqv1Q ↩
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