'Israeli' Prime Minister during a cabinet meeting (File photo)
Inside ‘Israel’: Cabinet clash erupts over Gaza ceasefire team
Note: AI technology was used to generate this article’s audio.
- Intelligence Minister Eli Cohen objects to his exclusion from the Gaza ceasefire ministerial team and votes against the decision.
- Shin Bet chief David Zini publicly supports the death penalty for Palestinian attackers for the first time.
A sharp dispute erupted within the security and political cabinet of 'Israel' on Thursday evening after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu proposed forming a ministerial team to oversee the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement.
The proposal excluded Intelligence Minister Eli Cohen, triggering strong objections from him and igniting tension inside the meeting.
According to Channel 12, Cohen reacted with anger after learning he would not be part of the team. He repeatedly interrupted Netanyahu during the session and insisted that he be included. The disagreement escalated when Cohen threatened to vote against the proposal. At the end of the discussion, he followed through, formally opposing the decision and criticising what he described as an effort to reduce the powers of the full cabinet in favour of a narrower group.
Despite his objections, the formation was approved. The team will include Netanyahu, War Minister Yoav Gallant, Justice Minister Yariv Levin, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, and the extremist ministers Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich.
Shin Bet Supports Death Penalty
In a separate development during the same meeting, Shin Bet chief David Zini surprised cabinet members by expressing, for the first time, the agency’s support for imposing the death penalty on Palestinian attackers.
Zini said the measure would strengthen deterrence and serve as an effective tool, dismissing long-standing concerns that such a law could encourage attempts to kidnap civilians or 'Israeli' soldiers for bargaining purposes.
