Israel ministers reject Lebanon ceasefire, Ben-Gvir threatens to quit

Israel's far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich on Thursday rejected a proposal for a 21-day ceasefire in Lebanon and called for the "crushing" of the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah.

"The campaign in the north should end with a single result: crushing Hezbollah and elimination of its ability to harm the residents of the north," Smotrich said on social media platform X, adding that the ceasefire proposed by the U.S. and its allies would give Hezbollah time to "reorganize".

Israel's Foreign Minister Israel Katz also said there would be no ceasefire with Hezbollah.

"There will be no ceasefire in the north. We will continue to fight against the Hezbollah terrorist organization with all our strength until victory and the safe return of the residents of the north to their homes," Katz said in a post on social media platform X, referring to tens of thousands who have been displaced.

Far-right partner in Netanyahu’s government and head of the Jewish Power party Itamar Ben-Gvir threatened to quit the coalition if a permanent cease-fire is reached with Hezbollah.

Ben-Gvir threatened to suspend cooperation with the coalition if a temporary deal is reached.

“If a temporary cease-fire becomes permanent, we will resign from the government,” he said.

It was the latest sign of displeasure from Netanyahu’s hard-line government toward international cease-fire efforts.

If Ben-Gvir leaves the coalition, Netanyahu would lose his parliamentary majority and could see his government come toppling down, though opposition leaders have said they would offer support for a cease-fire deal.