Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s Religious Zionism Party signaled on Thursday it would likely exit Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition over the ceasefire agreement with Hamas.

The party was set to convene on Thursday morning to deliberate its role in the governing coalition ahead of a likely cabinet vote on the agreement, according to Hebrew media reports.

Knesset member Zvi Sukkot told Israel’s Reshet Bet radio that Religious Zionism was likely to leave the government. He emphasized that the party aims to “transform the DNA of the State of Israel” rather than simply hold positions in the coalition.

Smotrich has openly opposed the agreement, which was announced on Wednesday, as a “surrender deal” and a “catastrophe” for the Jewish state. He has reportedly set conditions to stay in the government should the agreement be approved, including a government commitment to the dismantling of Hamas and renewing the fighting in Gaza following the ceasefire.

He participated in closed-door meetings with Netanyahu on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Image -Yonatan Sindel/Flash90