Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir has publicly urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to continue military operations, directly challenging President Donald Trump’s recent calls for an immediate ceasefire.
The intervention by the far-right minister signals deepening internal divisions within the Israeli government as external pressure mounts to de-escalate tensions in the region.
Ben Gvir’s remarks come shortly after President Trump criticized Israel’s strikes on Beirut and appealed to both Israel and Iran to "immediately stop shooting." The US President’s intervention marked a sharp escalation in diplomatic tensions, with Washington seeking to curb what it views as dangerous military activity in the Middle East.
By openly advocating for the continuation of hostilities, Ben Gvir appears to be positioning himself against the White House’s diplomatic agenda.
This public rift complicates the path toward a negotiated settlement.
With the US administration actively pushing for a halt to violence, dissent from key figures within the Israeli cabinet suggests that any ceasefire agreement may face significant domestic political hurdles in Jerusalem.