Day 469: What are the latest updates with Gaza hostage deal, Lebanon?
Hostage deal signed • Suspected terror ramming in West Bank • Israel kills Oct. 7 Nukhba terrorist in Gaza airstrikes, hits over 50 terror sites
Ben-Gvir: If Gaza ceasefire is implemented, Otzma Yehudit will leave gov't
The right wing minister called the deal 'reckless' and claimed it emboldens Hamas.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir announced on Thursday evening that if the Gaza ceasefire is implemented, his Otzma Yehudit party will leave the government.
"The deal that is taking shape is a reckless deal," Ben-Gvir said in a televised statement, saying it would "erase the achievements of the war" by releasing hundreds of Palestinian militants and withdrawing from strategic areas in Gaza, leaving Hamas undefeated.
“This deal teaches them (Hamas) that they can take hostages and attack, and at the end of the day, they can get what they want," the Otzma Yehudit leader said.
"If this irresponsible deal is approved and implemented, we, the members of Otzma Yehudit, will submit letters of resignation to the prime minister," he said, adding that he would, nonetheless, not seek to bring down the government.'
CNN reported that the cabinet pushed back the ceasefire deal until Saturday, though Israeli media previously reported that the cabinet would vote on Friday.
Israel at War: What you need to know
- Hamas launched a massive attack on October 7, with thousands of terrorists infiltrating from the Gaza border and taking some 240 hostages into Gaza.
- Over 1,200 Israelis and foreign nationals were murdered, including over 350 at the Re'im music festival and hundreds of Israeli civilians across Gaza border communities.
- 98 hostages remain in Gaza.
- 49 hostages in total have been killed in captivity, IDF says.
- The IDF launched a ground invasion of Lebanon on September 30.
- The Israel-Lebanon ceasefire came into effect on November 27 at 4:00 a.m.
- Netanyahu confirmed the first phase of the Israel-Hamas Ceasefire on January 17, 2025