From the Liveblog of
Wednesday, July 2, 2025
Ben Gvir reportedly seeking Smotrich’s help to block Gaza hostage deal
Sam Sokol is the Times of Israel's political correspondent. He was previously a reporter for the Jerusalem Post, Jewish Telegraphic Agency and Haaretz. He is the author of "Putin’s Hybrid War and the Jews"
National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir has reportedly reached out to Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich to request that the two senior ministers form a united bloc within the government against the ceasefire deal in Gaza currently being pushed by the Trump administration.
According to Hebrew language media reports, the two — who represent the far-right Otzma Yehudit and Religious Zionism parties, respectively — may meet in the coming hours to discuss possible coordination regarding their opposition to the American initiative.
However, Smotrich’s office denies that Ben Gvir has reached out. In a statement to the press sent via Smotrich’s spokesman, “a source close to Smotrich” says rather than ask Smotrich directly for help, Ben Gvir “briefed the media about a meeting that has not been set.”
“The issue of victory in Gaza is too significant and the lives of the hostages are too precious to play a game of briefings to the media. The finance minister has been working on this issue with full force and seriousness for quite some time now,” the source states.
Smotrich and Ben Gvir have both opposed Israel agreeing to halt fighting before Hamas is completely destroyed, though only Ben Gvir’s Otzma Yehudit quit the government in January to protest the previous ceasefire and hostage deal. The party returned to the coalition in March with the resumption of hostilities in Gaza.
The bid by Ben Gvir comes after US President Donald Trump announced last night that Israel had agreed to the necessary conditions to finalize a 60-day ceasefire with Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
“We will work with all parties to end the war” during the prospective two-month truce, Trump said in a Truth Social post, summarizing the development that came out of meetings top US officials held on Tuesday in Washington with visiting Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to visit the White House next week and Trump has said that he will be “very firm” with the prime minister on the need to end the war in Gaza.
The Times of Israel Community.