Some in Netanyahu’s government are pressuring him to reject an extended ceasefire

As international pressure mounts to extend a temporary ceasefire with Hamas, some right-wing members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government are threatening to tear down the ceasefire if he does not resume fighting in Gaza.

Far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said on Wednesday that if Israel did not continue its war with Hamas, its political faction would leave the governing coalition.

“Stopping the war = the collapse of the government,” Mr. Ben-Gvir said in a written statement.

While Mr. Ben-Gvir’s departure alone would not topple the government, it would give Mr. Netanyahu a very slim majority to maintain his grip on power.

On Monday, Israel and Hamas agreed to extend their ceasefire from four to six days, under an agreement that would provide for the continued exchange of Palestinian prisoners for Israeli hostages, and mediators are trying to broker a new extension. The extended pause was largely welcomed by the Israeli public, which has been watching 24-hour news coverage documenting the return of Israeli citizens abducted from their homes on October 7.

But far-right members of Netanyahu’s government have been critical of the ceasefire, arguing that Israel should continue its military assault on Gaza. Mr. Ben-Gvir, who rose from a fringe figure in Israel’s settler movement to his current role in Mr. Netanyahu’s government, has been particularly vocal, at times calling on Israel to “eliminate” anyone who supports Hamas.

Mr. Netanyahu cannot afford to alienate Mr. Ben-Gvir, who is part of a right-wing coalition of parties that gives the prime minister a slim majority in parliament. If he fails to secure a majority of the 120 seats, he will have to try to form a new coalition or face new national elections.

Two members of Netanyahu’s staff, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to reporters, said the Israeli prime minister wanted to avoid elections at all costs.

Netanyahu’s approval ratings have fallen steadily since the October 7 attacks on Israel. A poll conducted earlier this month by Israel’s Bar-Ilan University found trust in Netanyahu at 4 percent. In another poll conducted last week by the Israeli newspaper Maariv, 57 percent of Israelis said they would vote for Benny Gantz, a moderate member of Netanyahu’s war cabinet, as prime minister, while 27 percent said they would vote for Mr. Netanyahu. to vote. Netanyahu.

Mr. Netanyahu has also conducted his own polls, the two staffers said, and believed he would not do well in national elections if they were to take place in the coming months.