Ben Gvir rejects Gaza peace deal, demands continued assassinations and emigration

Far-right Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has declared a draft peace deal for Gaza "unacceptable to Israel," stating that any agreement to halt assassinations of Hamas members would be equivalent to agreeing to Hamas organizing for future attacks. He also called for continued Palestinian emigration from the Strip.

Ben-Gvir's hardline stance contrasts with international efforts to broker a ceasefire and suggests a significant internal division within the Israeli government regarding the resolution of the conflict in Gaza. He insisted that Israel must communicate this position firmly to its diplomatic partners.

His comments follow similar sentiments from Gadi Eisenkot, a former chief of staff and a primary challenger to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in upcoming elections, who stated that any agreement not leading to the "destruction of Hamas' military-governmental power or its dissolution" would be a "complete failure." Eisenkot also raised questions about the transparency of the agreement process.

The Israeli government has also pushed back against reports that mediators and Hamas were close to an agreement, clarifying that the 15-point outline discussed in Cairo is not an agreement with Israel and does not meet Jerusalem's demand for the complete removal of all weapons from the Gaza Strip. Israel insists on the full disarmament and demilitarization of Hamas as a prerequisite for any progress, expressing concerns that storing weapons under international supervision within Gaza could allow Hamas to regain control.