Israel's internal "discord" over ceasefire and hostage release agreement with Hamas

On June 1, Israeli National Security Minister and head of the Otzma Yehudit party, Itamar Ben Gvir, rejected the proposed ceasefire and hostage release agreement.

Earlier, US President Joe Biden announced that Israel had presented a "roadmap" towards a comprehensive ceasefire in the Gaza Strip in exchange for the release of hostages.

The proposal includes three phases, starting with a “full and comprehensive” ceasefire lasting six weeks.

In the second phase, Hamas and Israel will negotiate terms for a permanent end to hostilities. The third phase will include a major reconstruction plan for Gaza.

Faced with this proposal, Mr. Ben Gvir, along with his ally, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, warned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that his government would collapse if he accepted the above deal.

Mr. Ben Gvir emphasized that the details of the agreement meant ending the conflict and giving up pushing back Hamas, arguing that this posed a security risk to the State of Israel.

The official also assessed that this was not a complete victory as Mr. Netanyahu had repeatedly promised and that the Otzma Yehudit party would not allow the conflict to end this way.

Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Yair Lapid criticized the statements of Mr. Smotrich and Mr. Ben Gvir as "abandoning national security," the hostages as well as residents of northern and southern Israel.

On the same day, Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, had a phone call with his US counterpart Antony Blinken to discuss the situation in Gaza and the stages of the ceasefire agreement announced by President Biden earlier.

During the phone call, Prince Faisal bin Farhan expressed Saudi Arabia's support for all efforts to achieve an immediate ceasefire, the complete withdrawal of Israeli occupation forces, the provision of urgent humanitarian aid to civilians affected by the escalating conflict, and the safe return of those displaced by the conflict.

The Saudi Foreign Minister also stressed the importance of seriously addressing any proposal aimed at achieving a permanent ceasefire and ending the suffering of the Palestinian people in Gaza.

In another development, Chile announced on June 1 that it would join South Africa's lawsuit at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) against Israel's military campaign in Gaza.

Speaking to parliament, Chilean President Gabriel Boric spoke of the "tragic humanitarian situation" in Gaza and called on the international community to respond firmly.

The leader described the conflict in Gaza as "unjustified" and "unacceptable." Chile recognized the state of Palestine as an independent country in 2011.

On 29 December 2023, South Africa requested the ICJ to initiate proceedings against Israel, alleging that Israel violated its obligations under the 1948 Genocide Convention in relation to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

On January 26, the ICJ issued a ruling requiring Israel to take all possible measures to prevent acts of genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

On March 6, South Africa continued to request the ICJ to issue an emergency order against Israel to end the widespread famine in the Gaza Strip.

On March 28, the ICJ ordered Israel to take all necessary measures to ensure basic aid reaches the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip.