National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir announced on Thursday evening that if the Gaza ceasefire is implemented, his Otzma Yehudit party will leave the government.
"The deal that is taking shape is a reckless deal," Ben-Gvir said in a televised statement, saying it would "erase the achievements of the war" by releasing hundreds of Palestinian militants and withdrawing from strategic areas in Gaza, leaving Hamas undefeated.
“This deal teaches them (Hamas) that they can take hostages and attack, and at the end of the day, they can get what they want," the Otzma Yehudit leader said.
"If this irresponsible deal is approved and implemented, we, the members of Otzma Yehudit, will submit letters of resignation to the prime minister," he said, adding that he would, nonetheless, not seek to bring down the government.'
CNN reported that the cabinet pushed back the ceasefire deal until Saturday, though Israeli media previously reported that the cabinet would vote on Friday.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office has not commented.
Hostage deal context
This comes after his strong opposition this week to the finalization of Israel's hostage deal with Hamas.
Diaspora Minister Amichai Chikli said he would quit if varying security concerns were not met in the deal.
“Hamas has managed to greatly extend the duration of the fighting, maintain firm control over Gaza’s population, and preserve some of its military capabilities. The mission is not yet complete,” he wrote in a Thursday statement.
“I am committing here that if there is, God, forbid, a withdrawal from the Philadelphi Corridor (before achieving the war goals), or if we do not return to fight in order to complete the war goals, I will resign from my position as a minister in the government."
Similarly, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said his party's place in the government is dependent on whether or not Israel returns to war with Hamas after the ceasefire.
"The deal that will be presented to the government is both bad and dangerous for Israel’s national security," the head of the Religious Zionist Party said on Wednesday evening, according to reporting from The Jerusalem Post.
"Alongside the immense joy and excitement over the return of each kidnapped individual, this agreement undermines many of the achievements of the war, during which the heroes of this nation risked their lives. It may, God forbid, cost us dearly in blood. We strongly oppose it.
"Our continued presence in the government depends on absolute certainty of resuming the war with full force—on a broad scale and with a renewed strategy—until we achieve a decisive victory, including the complete destruction of Hamas and the safe return of all hostages to their homes."
The Religious Zionist Party will oppose the deal no matter what.
The Post reported that in order for the deal to pass, it must pass votes in the National Security Cabinet and then in the government plenum. Even if the aforementioned parties' ministers vote against the deal, the deal will still have a majority in both the cabinet and government.