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ISRAEL: Officials Deny Draft Ceasefire Rpts As Smotrich Blasts Prospective Deal

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Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has pushed back against earlier reports of a potential 'final draft' for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza (see 'ISRAEL: RTRS-'Breakthrough' In Gaza Ceasefire Talks', 0900GMT). Smotrich, who leads the ultranationalist National Religious Party–Religious Zionism party, said that his party “will not be part of” such a deal, claiming that it would be a “catastrophe for Israel’s national security.” Reuters reports that Israeli officials have denied receipt of a draft ceasefire proposal after Smotrich's statement.

  • In a statement, Smotrich goes on to say “This is the time to continue with all our might, to occupy and cleanse the entire Strip, to finally take control of humanitarian aid from Hamas, and to open the gates of hell on Gaza until Hamas surrenders completely and all the hostages are returned.”
  • For PM Benjamin Netanyahu, the political calculus surrounding any deal is delicate. There is a strong possibility that Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir from the ultranationalist Otzma Yehudit party will resign from Cabinet if a ceasefire deal is implemented no matter the content, with the complete destruction of Hamas and Israel's occupation of the Gaza strip seen as red lines for the hardliner.
  • Netanyahu can afford to lose Ben-Gvir's party, but not Smotrich's as well. Doing so would see the gov't lose its majority in the Knesset.
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Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has pushed back against earlier reports of a potential 'final draft' for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza (see 'ISRAEL: RTRS-'Breakthrough' In Gaza Ceasefire Talks', 0900GMT). Smotrich, who leads the ultranationalist National Religious Party–Religious Zionism party, said that his party “will not be part of” such a deal, claiming that it would be a “catastrophe for Israel’s national security.” Reuters reports that Israeli officials have denied receipt of a draft ceasefire proposal after Smotrich's statement.

  • In a statement, Smotrich goes on to say “This is the time to continue with all our might, to occupy and cleanse the entire Strip, to finally take control of humanitarian aid from Hamas, and to open the gates of hell on Gaza until Hamas surrenders completely and all the hostages are returned.”
  • For PM Benjamin Netanyahu, the political calculus surrounding any deal is delicate. There is a strong possibility that Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir from the ultranationalist Otzma Yehudit party will resign from Cabinet if a ceasefire deal is implemented no matter the content, with the complete destruction of Hamas and Israel's occupation of the Gaza strip seen as red lines for the hardliner.
  • Netanyahu can afford to lose Ben-Gvir's party, but not Smotrich's as well. Doing so would see the gov't lose its majority in the Knesset.