Israeli far-right minister threatens to withdraw from government

Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir reportedly threatened to withdraw from the coalition government led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

According to local media reports, Ben-Gvir targeted Netanyahu at the Security Cabinet meeting where Hamas’ response to the prisoner swap was discussed.

Ben-Gvir criticized Netanyahu’s decision to send an Israeli delegation to indirect prisoner swap negotiations with Hamas without consulting the Cabinet.

He argued that the prime minister held secret meetings with Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and security officials behind closed doors and that he was “using the Cabinet as a decorative device.”

“Prime Minister, I am telling you, if you decide alone, it is your responsibility and you will be alone,” Ben-Gvir addressed Netanyahu at the meeting.

On July 3, the Israeli Foreign Intelligence Service (Mossad) announced in a written statement that the parties mediating the prisoner swap negotiations had conveyed Hamas’ response to the ceasefire proposal to the Israeli negotiating team.

Netanyahu announced that he had decided to send an Israeli delegation to the negotiations between Tel Aviv and Hamas to reach a prisoner swap agreement.