Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to respond to US President Joe Biden’s call regarding reaching a truce and prisoner exchange deal with Hamas.
Lapid pledged to support Netanyahu and prevent the collapse of his government if its far-right members became stubborn and prevented from reaching a settlement regarding the prisoners in Gaza.
“The Israeli government cannot ignore President Biden’s important speech,” Lapid wrote on X. “There is an agreement on the table that must be concluded.” He added, “I remind Netanyahu that he has a safety net on our side to conclude a hostage agreement if Ben Gvir and Smotrich leave the government.”
It is noteworthy that Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich oppose reaching a deal with Hamas, and demand the reoccupation of the Gaza Strip.
On Friday, US President Joe Biden spoke about a new Israeli proposal to reach a truce and prisoner exchange deal with Hamas, and called on Tel Aviv to move forward in this direction.
Biden said that the Israeli proposal was presented to Hamas on Thursday via Qatar, and he considered it to be an opportunity that should not be “missed.”
He explained that the first phase will last 6 weeks, and includes “a complete and complete ceasefire, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from all populated areas in Gaza, the release of a number of hostages, including women, the elderly and the wounded, and in return the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.”
He pointed out that the Israeli and Palestinian sides will negotiate a permanent ceasefire during those six weeks, but the truce will continue if the talks remain ongoing.
But the Israeli Broadcasting Corporation quoted Netanyahu’s office as confirming that he rejected the idea of a permanent ceasefire, before Hamas’s military and governmental capabilities were destroyed.
Netanyahu said that his conditions for ending the war have not changed, which are “to destroy Hamas’ capabilities, free all hostages, and ensure that Gaza does not pose a threat to Israel.”