The Israeli prime minister is attempting to prevent his government from collapsing amid far-right resignation threats

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has promised to continue Israel's war on Gaza in a bid to stop far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich from exiting his coalition, according to Yedioth Ahronoth.

The Israeli outlet reports that Smotrich, head of the Religious Zionism party and one of the staunchest opponents to a deal that would end the war, felt like his demands were met following the latest meeting with Netanyahu.

Israel’s security cabinet approved the ceasefire proposal on Friday, which now awaits approval from the full cabinet.

The cabinet was intended to meet on Thursday, but Netanyahu accused Hamas of adding last-minute conditions to extract concessions.

The Palestinian group denied the accusations, saying it had submitted its written agreement to the proposal.

On Friday, Hamas added that “obstacles related to the ceasefire agreement have been overcome”.

According to Israeli media reports, Smotrich demanded not only guarantees that Israeli troops would return to the Gaza Strip but that Israel would retain control over the flow of humanitarian aid into the besieged Palestinian enclave.

“Without a full return to war, we will resign,” Smotrich reportedly said.

The finance minister previously released a statement saying he would only remain in Netanyahu’s coalition government if the prime minister promised to resume the war following the six-week first phase of the ceasefire.

His remarks come after Itamar Ben Gvir, Israel’s national security minister and head of the far-right Jewish Power party, said he would resign if the cabinet approves the ceasefire deal.

Ben Gvir, who described the deal as an Israeli “surrender”, has previously called on Smotrich to support him in thwarting its implementation by collectively resigning from the government.

Ahead of Friday’s cabinet vote, Ben Gvir called on his “friends” in Religious Zionism and in Netanyahu’s Likud party to support him in his attempts to stop the deal.

“It's not too late yet. We are before a cabinet meeting. We can stop this deal. Join me. We can stop it,” he said.

Both Ben Gvir and Smotrich support continuing the war until they consider Hamas to be eliminated and have openly supported plans for Israel to remain in the Gaza Strip and build Jewish settlements there.

‘More heartbreaks to absorb’

The ceasefire plan for Gaza is comprised of three phases.

The first phase, due to begin on Sunday, would see Hamas release Israeli female civilian and military captives - along with the children, elderly and sick - in exchange for some 1,000 Palestinian detainees.

The second and third stages, if agreed on during the first phase, would see the remaining Israeli captives released, Israel’s complete withdrawal from Gaza, and a reconstruction plan for the enclave, among other things.

Netanyahu’s reported promise to resume fighting following the first phase may jeopardise the prospects of a lasting ceasefire, which is one of Hamas’ key conditions for any negotiations.

As Israel’s internal negotiations continue, its military has repeatedly pounded the Gaza Strip despite the expected halt in hostilities.

At least 169 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since Wednesday, when Qatar and the US announced that a ceasefire agreement had been reached, according to the local health ministry.

Palestinians spoke of powerful air strikes across the enclave over the past two days.

“Israel expedites its killing before the implementation of the ceasefire,” Abubaker Abed, a journalist in Gaza, said on X. “Just more final tears to shed, more heartbreaks to absorb.”

Nearly 47,000 Palestinians have been killed since the start of the war, according to the health ministry.

Experts believe the toll to be significantly higher, as Israel’s destruction of Gaza’s health sector has hampered its ability to keep track of all those killed in the war.