Tel Aviv, January 19, 2025 –Three far-right ministers from Israel’s Otzma Yehudit party have resigned in protest of the government’s ceasefire agreement with Hamas.
The resigning officials include the Minister of National Security and Otzma Yehudit party leader Itamar Ben-Gvir, the Minister of Heritage Amichai Eliyahu, and the Minister of Negev, Galilee, and National Resilience Yitzhak Wasserlauf.
In a resignation letter addressed to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Ben-Gvir criticized the ceasefire deal as a capitulation to terrorism, claiming it crossed all ideological red lines. “The ceasefire is a complete victory for terrorism,” Ben-Gvir wrote, while also citing what he described as his “significant achievements” during his tenure.
Ben-Gvir announced that his party has withdrawn from the coalition government and will not rejoin unless there is a “complete victory over Hamas” and full implementation of the war’s objectives.
Despite their resignation, Ben-Gvir clarified that his party has no immediate plans to destabilize the government. Otzma Yehudit intends to vote on legislative matters based on its ideological principles and conscience.
The resignations signal a deepening political rift within Israel’s ruling coalition as the country navigates tensions with Hamas and broader regional challenges.
