Smotrich, Netanyahu reach agreement on Gaza deal; Religious Zionism to vote against but stay in coalition — reports

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich (left) and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attend a vote in the Knesset plenum,  Jerusalem, December 31, 2024. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich (left) and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attend a vote in the Knesset plenum, Jerusalem, December 31, 2024. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has come to an understanding with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the hostage-ceasefire deal signed with Hamas in Doha last night, according to Hebrew media reports.

The two reached an agreement over the far-right minister’s demand that the IDF return to fighting Hamas in Gaza after a temporary ceasefire and over the issue of control over humanitarian aid being transferred to the Palestinian enclave, according to Channel 12 News and the Walla news site.

Smotrich and his Religious Zionism party will vote against the deal but remain in the government as a result of the agreement, the reports say.

Last night, Smotrich’s fellow far-right coalition member Itamar Ben Gvir said his Otzma Yehudit party will quit the government if the deal is approved.

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