National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and members of his Otzma Yehudit party submitted resignation letters on Sunday in protest against the government’s approval of a deal with Hamas. The agreement involves the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, which the party criticized as a “disgraceful surrender” and a reversal of the IDF’s achievements.
In his resignation letter to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Ben-Gvir expressed appreciation for the prime minister but stated that Otzma Yehudit would no longer support the government, although they would not vote to topple it. Along with Ben-Gvir, Otzma Yehudit ministers Yizhak Wasserlauf and Amichai Eliyahu also resigned, effective within 48 hours as per the law.
Otzma Yehudit Knesset members Zvika Fogel, Limor Son-Harmelech, and Yizthak Kroyzer announced their departure from parliamentary roles. Fogel was the chairman of the Knesset National Security Committee, and Kroyzer served on the judicial selection committee.
Ben-Gvir had previously warned of his departure, criticizing the deal for releasing terrorists and withdrawing from Gaza, leaving Hamas intact. Other ministers from the Religious Zionist Party and Likud, including Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, also opposed the ceasefire deal, highlighting internal dissent within the government coalition.
