Ben Gvir warns Netanyahu: No mandate to end the war without Hamas' "defeat"

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir stated that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu does not have a mandate to end the war in Gaza without the "defeat" of Hamas.

Ben Gvir added in a post on the platform "X" (formerly Twitter) on Saturday, saying: "Sir.. Prime Minister: You do not have a mandate to end the war without the absolute defeat of Hamas."

In the post, Ben Gvir sent a message to Netanyahu urging him not to end the war, amid internal and external pressures demanding that he not return from the United States without reaching a prisoner exchange deal and a ceasefire.

Earlier on Saturday, the Israeli Families of Prisoners Committee threatened Netanyahu that "the gates of hell will open for him in Israel if he does not return from the United States with a prisoner exchange deal and an end to the war in the Gaza Strip," according to the newspaper "Yedioth Ahronoth."

On Friday, the Families of Prisoners Committee published a statement that included the names of their relatives in the sector, saying: "Netanyahu, this is the complete list of 48 hostages who were kidnapped during your term, and you are obligated to bring them back home."

It continued: "48 names, and you (Netanyahu) have simply been doing everything for 721 days to prevent their return, so that the longest war in Israel's history can continue."

Netanyahu delivered his country's speech before the United Nations General Assembly in New York, in a nearly empty hall after most delegations withdrew in protest against the genocide in the Gaza Strip, which is about to enter its third year.

With the announcement of his speech, most delegations from countries withdrew from the United Nations General Assembly hall in a protest against Netanyahu, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court on charges of "committing war crimes and crimes against humanity" in Gaza.

With American support, Israel has been committing genocide in Gaza since October 7, 2023, resulting in 65,926 martyrs and 167,783 injured, most of whom are children and women, and famine that has claimed the lives of 442 Palestinians, including 147 children.