Netanyahu convened an emergency meeting with Ben-Gvir and Smotrich after Hamas responded to Trump’s ceasefire and prisoner exchange framework, even as Israeli attacks on Gaza continued.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu summoned National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich to an emergency meeting to discuss the situation following Hamas’s official response to US President Donald Trump’s proposal for a prisoner exchange and ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, Israeli media reported on Saturday.

Families of Israeli captives expressed concern that Ben-Gvir and Smotrich could obstruct the negotiations. Opposition leader Yair Lapid warned on Saturday evening that the two far-right ministers would not succeed in derailing Trump’s plan to end the war in Gaza.

“In less than two hours, when Shabbat ends and you hear the threats of Smotrich and Ben-Gvir, remember—they have nothing to threaten,” Lapid wrote on X. “We will not allow them to thwart the deal.” He added that an overwhelming majority in both the Knesset and among the Israeli public supports Trump’s proposal.

Hamas, Trump, Israel, and Who Accepted What Ceasefire – Analysis

Former War Cabinet member Gadi Eisenkot described the proposal as “the last chance to bring the hostages home, even if it requires difficult decisions.”

Meanwhile, ABC News cited informed sources saying that Netanyahu will hold a security meeting this evening to review the list of Palestinian prisoners and discuss possible army withdrawal scenarios from Gaza.

A senior Israeli official told the network that Israel’s recent pause in military operations was intended to facilitate the organization of prisoner releases. He emphasized that this was not an official ceasefire or the beginning of a withdrawal, but a tactical move to protect Israeli forces.

The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas announced on Friday that it had submitted its formal response to the Trump plan to mediators, agreeing to release all Israeli captives—living and dead—under the framework of the proposal.

The movement also reiterated its readiness to transfer governance of the Gaza Strip to an independent Palestinian technocratic body based on national consensus and backed by Arab and Islamic states. However, it stressed that the future of Gaza and the rights of the Palestinian people must be decided within a unified Palestinian framework.

Reacting to Hamas’ response, Trump wrote on Truth Social: “Based on the statement issued by Hamas, I believe they are ready for a lasting peace.”

He urged Israel to halt its bombardment of Gaza “so we can get the hostages out safely and quickly,” calling the current conditions “too dangerous.”

Yet, in remarks today, Trump struck a sharper tone, saying that Hamas must act quickly, otherwise “all possibilities will be open,” warning he would not tolerate any delays—despite the fact that Israeli bombardment of Gaza has continued and even intensified since his earlier statements.

Netanyahu, speaking alongside Trump last Monday, reaffirmed his support for the plan, calling it one that “fulfills Israel’s goals from the war.”

Since October 7, 2023, Israel—with full American backing—has carried out a genocidal war on Gaza, killing 67,074 Palestinians and wounding 169,430, the vast majority of them women and children. The ongoing blockade and famine have also claimed 459 additional lives, including 154 children.

(PC, AJA)