October 6, 2025

Big drama inside Israel's government! Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, backed by former President Donald Trump's bold 20-point plan to end the war in Gaza, now faces angry shouts from his own ultra-nationalist partners. This tricky plan pushes for Gaza's demilitarisation and won't let Hamas govern again — but it does allow Hamas members to stay if they stop violence and give up their weapons. Sounds simple? Not quite! Hamas gave a cautious thumbs-up, saying they’re ready to talk about releasing hostages and joining a "Palestinian national framework". But this idea made Netanyahu’s far-right coalition buddies very angry. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir slammed it, warning, "We cannot agree under any circumstances to a scenario in which the terrorist organization that brought the greatest calamity upon the State of Israel is revived." He even threatened to quit the government! Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich also called pausing attacks a "grave mistake," fearing it would weaken Israel's fight to free hostages and wipe out Hamas. These two ministers and their parties hold significant power, and if they walk out, Netanyahu's government could collapse well before elections scheduled by October 2026. But stopping the war now is tricky. Families of hostages want action, the Israeli public is tired of fighting, and Israel’s international friends want peace. Also, ending conflict could open doors for other Muslim countries, like Saudi Arabia, to join the Abraham Accords — big deals that normalized relations with some Arab states. Trump wants Israel to halt bombing to start talks in Egypt for hostage releases, but Israel hasn’t agreed to a full ceasefire. Military strikes continued over the weekend, killing dozens in Gaza. Israeli government spokesperson Shosh Bedrosian said the military paused some bombings but kept working for "defensive purposes." Netanyahu calls Trump’s plan a team effort aiming for Hamas’ surrender and Israel’s security control over Gaza. Still, the plan lacks details and timelines, which irritates far-right allies. Polling expert Mitchell Barak thinks the government is close to breaking up, but says a quick fall is unlikely since opposition parties back Trump's plan, and Smotrich and Ben-Gvir have few exit choices. Opposition leader Yair Lapid wants to keep the government running until the peace plan plays out, even offering “insurance” against Netanyahu’s "extremist and irresponsible partners." Will Netanyahu hold his coalition together, or will this political powder keg explode? The Middle East watches with bated breath!

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Tags: Netanyahu, Trump plan, Gaza war, Hamas, Israeli coalition, Middle east peace,