Ben-Gvir mobilizes Likud ministers to thwart a potential prisoner swap deal.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, head of the Otzma Yehudit party, contacted several Likud ministers on Sunday in an attempt to persuade them to oppose the prisoner exchange deal, which also includes a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

According to estimates, there are approximately 10 ministers who are likely to oppose the deal and possibly contribute to its failure, according to what Israel's Channel 12 reported today, citing "informed" sources. There are also speculation that Ben-Gvir will resign from the government if the deal goes through.

Given Ben-Gvir's opposition to the agreement, and the lack of tangible progress in the negotiations, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to meet with Ben-Gvir later today. The security and political cabinet is scheduled to convene this evening to discuss the progress of the negotiations.

Netanyahu met overnight with Religious Zionism Party leader Bezalel Smotrich at his office in an attempt to avert a coalition crisis that could lead to the government's collapse, given the extreme right's opposition to any deal that might end the war on Gaza.

Last night, Minister and Cabinet member David Amsalem commented on the possibility that Ben-Gvir and Smotrich's withdrawal from the coalition could lead to the government's downfall, saying, "Anyone who wants to leave the government, let him leave. I have never left anyone who doesn't see the magnitude of the historic opportunity facing the State of Israel. Anyone who doesn't understand the importance of this moment misses everything."

Last week, in closed-door talks, Smotrich discussed the possibility of an Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip as part of a prisoner exchange deal, describing it as a "slap in the face." Smotrich strongly criticized "withdrawal from areas occupied with the blood of soldiers as part of a prisoner swap," calling it a "grave betrayal."

Ben-Gvir approached Smotrich earlier this month and urged him to join him in opposing the deal, telling him, "Let's act together as a bloc to thwart the prisoner swap." This call sparked a fierce backlash from the prisoners' families, who said at the time, "Smotrich and Ben-Gvir have forgotten what it means to be Jewish."

Currently, the Qatari capital, Doha, is witnessing a new round of indirect negotiations between Hamas and Israeli delegations, mediated by Qatar and Egypt, and with American participation, with the aim of reaching a new ceasefire agreement and prisoner exchange.