"A Deal With Hitler"
Ben-Gvir Attacks Kushner and WItkoff
"Mr. Witkoff, that is the difference, those who murdered us on October 7 do not ask for forgiveness. Their families are proud. They want to kill Jews. Would you have made peace with Hitler? Hamas is Hitler.”
Israel’s cabinet convened Thursday evening and approved a high-stakes agreement to secure the release of hostages and bring an end to the war, in a session that included U.S. figures Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner and was marked by sharp exchanges between ministers and government officials.
Prime Minister Netanyahu opened the session with remarks explaining his support for the deal and seeking to reassure coalition partners who had opposed it. “I want to save precious lives and to destroy Hamas,” he said, urging colleagues to navigate a complex reality.
“We must steer through the challenges. Even having an army and security forces is sometimes not enough, you fortify force through alliances. Politics requires balancing the future against the present, and there are prices to pay.”
A particularly heated confrontation unfolded between National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, who attended the meeting alongside Jared Kushner. Ben-Gvir accused the U.S. guests of endorsing an exchange that would free individuals he characterized as “murderers, infant killers and rapists,” telling Witkoff bluntly, “You would never approve such a deal in the United States.” Witkoff responded with a personal anecdote intended to temper the rhetoric. “I understand your anger,” he said. “I once had a child who died of an overdose. I wanted to take revenge on the family responsible, but when I confronted them in court I saw parents who were ashamed and asked for forgiveness, and I forgave them.”
Ben-Gvir pushed back emotionally: “Mr. Witkoff, that is the difference, those who murdered us on October 7 do not ask for forgiveness. Their families are proud. They want to kill Jews. Would you have made peace with Hitler? Hamas is Hitler.”
The flare-ups were not limited to Ben-Gvir. Social Equality and Women’s Affairs Minister May Golan addressed Kushner directly, declaring: “We are a nation that seeks peace, but we have no partner for peace on the other side.”
Kushner replied that the agreement “isolates Hamas, encourages actors in the Arab world to pursue peace, and preserves Israel’s security. If force is necessary, we will use it. This can go the easy way or the hard way.”
Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, voiced support for the cabinet’s action, “I thank the prime minister for what he has done, and I am glad I joined the government at this critical time,” Sa’ar said.
Government sources said the cross-examination and tension reflected deep divisions within the coalition over strategy, timing and the political cost of the agreement. Despite the discord, the cabinet approved the deal, setting in motion what officials described as the next stage toward stabilization and hostage returns.