Israel’s far-right security minister, an opponent of the ceasefire and hostage deal between Israel and Hamas, has resigned from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition government, along with other members of his party, as the ceasefire in Gaza came into effect several hours late.
Why It Matters
The Israeli government approved a U.S.-, Egypt- and Qatar-brokered deal between Israel and Hamas in the early hours of Saturday after 15 months of destructive war in Gaza.
Hamas, deemed a terror organization by the U.S., launched its unprecedented attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023. Over 1,200 people were killed and 251 more were taken as hostages into Gaza.
Israel vowed to eradicate Hamas and began a heavy campaign of bombardment and extensive ground operations in Gaza. Hamas-run health authorities in the territory say more than 46,000 people have been killed in Israeli operations since last October. This figure does not distinguish between civilian and combatant casualties.
Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir attends a convention at the International Convention Center, on January 28, 2024 in Jerusalem, Israel. The opponent of the ceasefire and hostage deal between Israel and Hamas resigned from… Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir attends a convention at the International Convention Center, on January 28, 2024 in Jerusalem, Israel. The opponent of the ceasefire and hostage deal between Israel and Hamas resigned from Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition government.
Amir Levy/Getty Images
What To Know
The multiphase deal agreed in the Qatari capital outlined a temporary six-week ceasefire in Gaza, and the return of dozens of the 98 hostages as part of the first stage. In exchange, hundreds of Palestinian prisoners will be freed from Israeli custody.
The released Israeli hostages would be civilian women, female soldiers, children, the elderly and those who are sick or injured, mediators said. Israel would pull its troops back from Gaza’s main population centers in the first stage of the deal, allowing its residents to return to what remains of their homes as more humanitarian aid permeates the Strip and those who are injured receive treatment.
The details of the second and third phases of the deal remain undecided. “If we need to go back to the fighting, we will do so in new ways and with great force,” Netanyahu said on Saturday.
The leader has faced increasing pressure in Israeli society to secure the release of hostages still in the Strip. But the far-right members of his cabinet, including Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich had vocally opposed the deal.
Ben-Gvir, of Israel’s far-right, ultranationalist Otzma Yehudit, or Jewish Power, party, said he and other members of the party in Israel’s Parliament, the Knesset, had resigned over what he termed a “surrender deal.”
It is a “complete victory for terrorism,” Ben-Gvir said. “We will not return to the government table without a complete victory against Hamas and full realization of the goals of the war.”
The long-negotiated ceasefire deal came into effect nearly three hours after it was scheduled to begin on Sunday. Under the deal, Hamas is expected to return three female Israeli hostages on Sunday afternoon local time, and release nearly 100 Palestinian prisoners.
The deal appeared to hang in the balance once again as Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, said on Sunday morning that Hamas had “not fulfilled its obligation, and contrary to the agreement, has not provided the State of Israel with the names of the returning female hostages.”
“The ceasefire will not come into effect so long as Hamas does not fulfill its obligations,” Hagari said.
Israeli troops crossing into Israel from the Gaza Strip, Saturday, January 18, 2025. The long-negotiated ceasefire deal came into effect nearly three hours after it was scheduled to begin on Sunday. Israeli troops crossing into Israel from the Gaza Strip, Saturday, January 18, 2025. The long-negotiated ceasefire deal came into effect nearly three hours after it was scheduled to begin on Sunday. AP Photo/Tsafrir Abayov
Netanyahu’s office then said Israel had received the list of hostages to be released. Majed al-Ansari, Qatari foreign ministry spokesperson, separately said Doha could confirm the names of the three hostages to be released on Sunday had been given to Israel, and that the “ceasefire has begun.”
Hamas had named the three hostages as Romi Gonen, Doron Steinbrecher and Emily Damari, according to media reports.
In the hours before the ceasefire came into effect on Sunday, the IDF said it had struck northern and central Gaza with artillery and using fighter jets. In a separate statement, the Israeli military said it had carried out a “covert, special operation” in Gaza to recover the body of Oron Shaul, an Israeli soldier who died in northern Gaza in 2014, which Hamas had held for more than a decade.
Palestinian news agency Wafa reported that 11 Palestinians had been killed and “dozens” more injured in Israeli strikes on northern and central Gaza since early on Sunday, citing medical officials.
Who Said What
Israeli Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said in a statement published on social media on Sunday: “We will not return to the government table without a complete victory against Hamas and the full realization of the war’s goals.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said on Saturday: If we need to go back to the fighting, we will do so in new ways and with great force.
What Happens Next
The return of the first three hostages from Gaza and the release of the Palestinian prisoners are expected to take place in the next few hours.
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