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In April 2024, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu secretly pursued a six-week Gaza truce, aiming to release hostages and achieve peace with Saudi Arabia. However, this move risked his fragile coalition, as far-right ministers opposed any de-escalation, prioritizing the re-establishment of Jewish settlements. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich's threat to collapse the government ultimately derailed the truce, revealing how political self-preservation and extremist ideology prolonged the conflict, despite opportunities for peace and regional normalization.