According to the Times of Israel report on October 18, 2025, Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, a key figure in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s far-right coalition, has issued a stark ultimatum that could precipitate the collapse of the government.
In an interview aired on Channel 12’s “Meet the Press” on October 18, 2025, Ben-Gvir revealed he had privately informed Netanyahu of a specific deadline for two critical demands: the complete dismantlement of Hamas and the enactment of mandatory death penalties for convicted terrorists.
While declining to disclose the exact date, he emphasized that failure to comply would prompt his Otzma Yehudit party to withdraw support, effectively dissolving the coalition. This pronouncement, echoing prior threats, underscores the fragility of Netanyahu’s administration amid ongoing military operations in Gaza and stalled hostage negotiations.
Ben-Gvir’s demands are rooted in long-standing coalition agreements forged after the November 2022 elections, where Otzma Yehudit secured promises on aggressive security measures. He recounted Netanyahu’s repeated assurances over the past two years, often deferred due to hostage concerns: “Every time I asked, our dear prime minister… told me: ‘Listen, Ben Gvir, we have hostages… Now there are no excuses.'”
The minister framed the death penalty legislation as essential for deterrence, arguing it would honor victims of the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks and prevent future abductions. Recent Knesset debates on the bill, advanced despite warnings from hostage coordinator Gal Hirsch about risks to captives, highlight Ben-Gvir’s unyielding stance, positioning it as a moral imperative rather than political posturing.
The ultimatum arrives at a precarious juncture for Netanyahu, whose government relies on Ben-Gvir’s seven Knesset seats to maintain a slim majority. With 48 hostages still held by Hamas—including at least 26 confirmed dead—and U.S.-brokered cease-fire talks faltering, the threat amplifies internal divisions.
Ben-Gvir’s recent rhetoric, including vows to continue the war until “total victory,” aligns with his ultranationalist base but risks alienating moderates and complicating international diplomacy. Critics, including hostage families, have decried similar proposals as provocative, potentially endangering lives by fueling Hamas retaliation, while Netanyahu’s office has yet to respond publicly.
As the deadline looms undisclosed, this confrontation tests the resilience of Israel’s wartime unity, potentially forcing early elections or coalition realignments. Ben-Gvir’s leverage, bolstered by public support for harsher measures post-October 7, could either galvanize security reforms or exacerbate governance paralysis.
For Netanyahu, navigating this crisis demands balancing far-right imperatives with broader strategic goals, including Gaza reconstruction and alliances under the incoming Trump administration. Ultimately, the saga illustrates the high-stakes interplay of ideology and pragmatism in Israel’s polarized political arena, where demands for justice collide with the imperatives of peace. See, More, Here>>>
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