Israel’s Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has reportedly threatened to bring down the government and force a new election, amid growing tensions over the direction of the war on Gaza, Al Jazeera reports.

Smotrich made the remarks during a Thursday night security cabinet meeting to discuss future military operations, according to Israel’s Kan public broadcaster. “From my perspective, we can stop everything and let the people decide,” he said.

The governing coalition currently holds just 60 seats in the 120-member Knesset, after the United Torah Judaism party and far-right legislator Avi Maoz quit in recent weeks. An election would only be triggered if parties in the Knesset agree to vote to dissolve the government.

In a rare public rebuke, Smotrich later issued a statement saying he had “lost faith that the prime minister is able and wants to lead the IDF to a decisive victory”.