Ben Gvir says his party will bolt government if Hamas ‘continues to exist’ after hostages return

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, who leads the far-right Otzma Yehudit party, threatens to leave the government if Hamas “continues to exist” after the release of the hostages under the Trump plan for ending the war in Gaza.

Under the Trump plan, following the release of all remaining hostages, Hamas members who “commit to peaceful co-existence and to decommission their weapons will be given amnesty,” while those who wish to leave Gaza will be given safe passage.

It is not immediately clear if Ben Gvir means he would leave the government if Hamas complies with this stipulation of the proposed agreement.

“In light of recent developments, myself and the Otzma Yehudit faction informed the prime minister in a clear manner: if after the release of the hostages the Hamas terror organization remains in existence, Otzma Yehudit will not be part of the government,” states Ben Gvir.

“We will not be part of a national defeat which will be an eternal disgrace, and which will turn into a ticking time bomb of the next massacre,” he adds.

The far-right minister says that his party “would, like everyone, be happy to see the hostages return home,” but says that his party “can in no way agree to a scenario in which the terror group which brought about the greatest ever catastrophe upon the State of Israel will be able to resurrect itself.