Fierce divisions have opened within Israel’s governing coalition following the announcement of a new ceasefire agreement in Gaza, as far-right cabinet members vow to oppose what they describe as a dangerous and naïve concession to Hamas. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a leading figure of Israel’s ultranationalist Religious Zionism party, announced Thursday that he would vote against the deal, warning it would “sow the seeds of future terror rather than peace.”
According to a report by The Jerusalem Post, Smotrich posted on X—formerly Twitter—early Thursday morning, describing his “mixed emotions on a complex morning.” While Israel awaited the highly anticipated return of hostages expected to be released by Hamas over the weekend, Smotrich said he could not join what he called “short-sighted celebrations.” His objection centers on the government’s decision to free a number of Palestinian detainees as part of the agreement, a move he claimed would release “the next generation of terror leadership.” Those prisoners, he warned, would “do everything to continue spilling rivers of Jewish blood.”
Smotrich’s outright opposition intensifies internal debate within Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s cabinet, where ideological fractures have lately overshadowed national unity. The ceasefire deal, brokered with international mediation, promises a temporary end to hostilities in Gaza, the return of all Israeli hostages, and an increase in humanitarian aid deliveries to the besieged enclave. While centrist and moderate ministers view the accord as a necessary humanitarian step and a possible gateway to longer-term calm, the far-right bloc has denounced it as weakness in the face of terror.
Tensions have been building as Netanyahu seeks to maintain support from both international allies and his increasingly fractured coalition. The prime minister hailed the agreement earlier this week as a “great day for Israel,” though he offered few specifics on the scope of troop withdrawals or the timeline of prisoner releases. Critics from within his own government, including Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, accuse him of capitulating to U.S. and Egyptian pressure. Their camp argues that any concession without a full Hamas disarmament risks empowering militant factions and undermining Israeli deterrence.
Analysts suggest that Netanyahu is now navigating one of the most precarious political balancing acts of his long career. Capitulating to his far-right partners could unravel the deal and isolate Israel diplomatically; ignoring them risks fracturing his coalition and inviting a government collapse. Either path could reshape the trajectory of the Gaza conflict and the domestic political landscape.
Despite the internal dissent, public sentiment across Israel remains conflicted—oscillating between relief over the hostages’ expected return and anxiety about what comes next. For families awaiting their loved ones, the technical debates in Jerusalem offer cold comfort. Yet as the ink dries on the ceasefire agreement, one thing seems certain: the breakthrough heralded abroad as a glimmer of hope has already sparked a fierce political battle at home, exposing the fragile seams of Israel’s ruling coalition at one of its most critical junctures in years.
Photo: Gemini AI