Why it matters:
The push by far-right cabinet members underscores growing internal pressure on Netanyahu to abandon any truce efforts and reinitiate widespread military operations, despite international condemnation over civilian deaths in Gaza.
Driving the news:
Amid renewed Israeli airstrikes on Rafah in southern Gaza — marking a breach of the fragile ceasefire — several far-right Israeli ministers have urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to order a full-scale resumption of the war against Gaza.
What they are saying:
“It is time for the Israeli army to return to fighting in Gaza with all its might,” said Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel’s minister of national security, calling on Netanyahu to authorize renewed military action.
Bezalel Smotrich, the regime’s finance minister, voiced support for Ben-Gvir’s stance on X (formerly Twitter), reiterating calls to restart the war.
Miri Regev, Israel’s transport minister, claimed that Hamas was “delaying the return of Israeli captives’ bodies” and therefore argued that the war “must continue.”
Key points:
- Multiple Israeli ministers are publicly pressuring Netanyahu to resume full military operations in Gaza.
- Airstrikes on Rafah have already violated the ceasefire and renewed civilian panic.
- Israeli media have previously acknowledged the regime’s direct or indirect support for militant groups opposed to Hamas.
Between the lines:
The demands by Ben-Gvir and other extremist ministers reveal deep fractures within Israel’s ruling coalition. Their statements also appear aimed at politically cornering Netanyahu, whose fragile leadership has been strained by domestic protests and divisions over Gaza strategy.
State of play:
Israeli jets have resumed attacks on Rafah, citing “security concerns.”
The ceasefire, already tenuous, now appears effectively collapsed.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate, with displacement and infrastructure collapse reaching unprecedented levels.
What to watch:
Whether Netanyahu yields to the mounting pressure from his far-right allies could determine the next phase of the conflict. A renewed large-scale offensive would likely trigger further civilian casualties, deepen Israel’s international isolation, and reignite regional tensions.
Go deeper:
Israeli Regime Violates Ceasefire 50 Times, Martyrs 38 Palestinians
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