Former Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who left the government over disagreements about the ceasefire in Gaza, is rejoining the coalition, a joint party statement said today, after Israel resumed strikes on the enclave, Reuters reports.
Ben-Gvir’s return will strengthen Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, which was left with only a thin parliamentary majority following his departure in January.
Ben-Gvir and other ministers from his Otzma Yehudit Party submitted their resignation letters to Netanyahu on 19 January as the ceasefire agreement in Gaza came into place.
“From this time onwards the Otzma Yehudit Party is not a member of the coalition,” the party said in a statement at the time.
It attributed the resignations to the government’s decision to approve the Gaza ceasefire agreement and the release of hundreds of Palestinians from Israeli jails, a move they had strongly opposed.
At least 400 Palestinians have been killed in a wave of brutal Israeli attacks across the Gaza Strip this morning, Gaza’s Ministry of Health said. The number is expected to rise as many are in critical condition or still under the rubble of bombed buildings.
READ: Gaza government officials among those killed in renewed Israeli aggression