Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid stated today that "if the deal means stopping the war at this stage, then let them stop the war and bring the hostages home." Lapid emphasized that "we must ensure that Hamas will not remain in power, but a hostage deal must come first."
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich confirmed that "we will not stop until all the hostages, both alive and deceased, are returned, and our soldiers are risking their lives to accomplish the mission."
Despite threats and warnings from extremist Israeli ministers Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich to topple the government led by Benjamin Netanyahu if U.S. President Joe Biden's proposed ceasefire plan in Gaza and prisoner exchange with Hamas is approved, Israeli President Isaac Herzog pledged his support for Netanyahu. Biden proposed a three-phase ceasefire plan in Gaza, primarily aimed at halting the fighting between Israel and Hamas, releasing Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners, and rebuilding Gaza.
