Rifts widen in Netanyahu coalition over Trump's Gaza plan

A rift within Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's far-right coalition is emerging as a flash point in efforts to end the war in Gaza. 

Netanyahu has embraced U.S. President Donald Trump's 20-point plan to end the war, which calls for Gaza's demilitarization and rules out any future governing role for Hamas, though it allows its members to remain if they renounce violence and surrender their weapons.

Hamas also responded positively, partially accepting Trump's plan, saying it was ready to negotiate the hostages' release and would be part of a "Palestinian national framework" as Gaza's future is addressed.

The idea that Hamas could still exist enraged Netanyahu's right-wing coalition partners.

"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," said National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.

If far-right ministers believe Netanyahu has made too many concessions to end the war, his coalition could collapse a year before the next election, which must be held by October 2026.

Trump has called for Israel to stop bombing Gaza so talks on his plan can play out, starting with indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas in Egypt's Red Sea resort of Sharmel-Sheikh on Monday for the release of all remaining hostages.

But on Saturday, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said that pausing attacks in Gaza was a "grave mistake." He said that over time this would erode Israel's position as it pursues its aims of freeing the hostages, eliminating Hamas and carrying out the demilitarisation of Gaza.

Ben-Gvir and Smotrich, whose parties hold 13 of the Knesset's 120 seats, have long supported Netanyahu before.