Israeli security minister ‘using all power’ to block Gaza ceasefire deal
The Army Radio says Netanyahu is avoiding a deal with Hamas out of fear of Ben Gvir and Smotrich, who wish to continue the war to destroy Gaza
Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir is trying to use his powers to block negotiations for a Gaza ceasefire and prisoner exchange deal, Haaretz reported on 2 September.
“Today, we have power in the government, and I’m not ashamed to say that we’re using this power to prevent a reckless deal and to stop any negotiations altogether,” Ben Gvir stated while speaking to members of Forum Hagvurah.
The forum’s members were protesting outside the Prime Minister’s Office against the general strike called by the Histradrut, Israel’s labor federation.
The Histradrut had called for the strike Monday to demand Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reach a deal to retrieve the Israeli captives being held by Hamas in Gaza.
“You give us the strength, so keep shouting, and we will do our job to ensure that Netanyahu doesn’t fold and that there won’t be a reckless deal,” he added.
Israeli radio reported on Sunday that Netanyahu is not seeking a deal with Hamas out of fear of his ministers, including Ben Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.
The radio denied that reaching a deal with Hamas amounted to a surrender to the Palestinian movement because the army claims it has killed about 18,000 members of Hamas’ armed wing, the Qassam Brigades.
This comes as the Israeli army announced the recovery of the bodies of six Israeli captives held by Palestinian factions in Gaza since 7 October.
Israel claims Hamas executed those captives. Hamas says Israeli airstrikes killed them.
The recovery of their bodies sparked widespread anger in Israel, new protests from opposition parties against Netanyahu, and the Histradrut general strike.
Israel’s ongoing war on Gaza has killed over 40,000 people, displaced over 90 percent of the strip’s 2.3 million residents, and destroyed the vast majority of its homes, hospitals, schools, mosques, churches, and water and power infrastructure.
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