Israel’s national security minister quit the Cabinet on Sunday over the ceasefire with Hamas, labelling the deal “a catastrophe”.

Itamar Ben-Gvir had threatened to leave on Thursday after details of the agreement with the terror group were announced. The deal will see almost 2,000 Palestinian prisoners released during phase one of the ceasefire, in return for 33 of the 97 Israeli hostages held in Gaza.

While his departure does not mean the collapse of prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Right-wing coalition, the move leaves the premier with just 62 seats in the 120-seat parliament, in which he must maintain the majority.

Mr Ben-Gvir criticised the conditions of the “reckless” deal, which he said includes the release of “thousands of terrorists”, 737 from Israeli prisons, mostly incarcerated on terror charges, and 1,167 detained during Israel’s ground operations in Gaza.

“If the war against Hamas resumes with full force toward achieving its decisive goals and objectives that remain unmet, we will return to the government,” he said after his resignation.