“If the prime minister decides to end the war without a large-scale offensive in Rafah to defeat Hamas, he will not have a mandate to continue serving,” said Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir.

Right-wing ministers said Monday that the Israel Defense Forces’ withdrawal from southern Gaza harms the war effort and that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu risks losing his mandate should the military fail to eliminate Hamas.

“If the prime minister decides to end the war without a large-scale offensive in Rafah to defeat Hamas, he will not have a mandate to continue serving,” tweeted National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called on Netanyahu to immediately convene the Security Cabinet:

“The only forum authorized to make significant decisions is the full [Security] Cabinet, but unfortunately this is not how things are happening, and we are seeing decisions being made in the smaller [War] Cabinet without approval…[and] under international pressure that is harming the war’s momentum and our interests,” said Smotrich.

“Citizens of Israel, there is no war more just than this one, and we are determined to achieve total victory,” said Netanyahu just hours after the pullout. “I have made it clear to the international community: There will be no ceasefire without the return of the hostages. It simply will not happen,” he added.

Netanyahu has repeatedly said that telling Israel not to go into Rafah is like demanding that it lose the war.

But the Biden administration demands a limited operation aimed only at high-value targets and securing the Gaza-Egypt border. U.S. President Joe Biden demanded that Netanyahu improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza, stressing that “an immediate ceasefire is essential to stabilize and improve the humanitarian situation and protect innocent civilians.” He instructed Netanyahu “to empower his negotiators to conclude a deal without delay to bring the hostages home,” the White House said.