Netanyahu stalls ceasefire deal as Hamas agrees, captives die: Lapid
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Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid accuses Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of deliberately stalling a ceasefire and prisoner-exchange deal already accepted by Hamas, warning that continued military operations only endanger captives.
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Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid speaks at the opening of the 25th Knesset session, in occupied al-Quds, Monday, October 28, 2024. (Debbie Hill/Pool Photo via AP)
Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid said on Monday that Hamas has already approved a proposal for a deal, yet the government is "manipulating while the captives are dying," doubling down on his refusal to join a temporary unity government.
Lapid dismissed Blue and White leader Benny Gantz's call for a six-month "Hostage-Rescue Government," explaining that he sees no reason "to participate in a government that includes Ben-Gvir and Smotrich" in order to secure an agreement for the return of captives. Instead, Lapid reiterated his own standing offer: to provide Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with "an external safety net" from the opposition if it helps finalize a deal.
His comments came after Egyptian and Qatari mediators confirmed that Hamas and other Palestinian factions had accepted a ceasefire and prisoner-exchange framework. The proposal, as reported on August 18, included a 60-day suspension of hostilities, Israeli troop withdrawals from parts of Gaza, the release of 10 Israeli captives in exchange for over 1,500 Palestinian detainees, and the reopening of the Rafah crossing for aid and movement. Humanitarian assistance, including fuel, food, and medical supplies, was also stipulated as part of the agreement.
Yet despite Hamas's acceptance, Netanyahu's cabinet has not endorsed the plan. Instead, it recently approved preparations for a new military push into Gaza City. Lapid branded the move a "disaster" that would further endanger captives rather than bring them home.
"The government continues to make hollow promises," Lapid said, adding that assurances of rescuing captives through expanded military campaigns" are exactly what we heard before Rafah. And what happened? The abductees died, soldiers were killed, and we could not bring anyone back."
Far-right ministers escalate rhetoric
Complicating matters further, far-right ministers in Netanyahu's coalition have openly called for starvation tactics against Palestinians. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich told a Cabinet meeting on August 24, "No water, no electricity. Let them die of hunger or surrender," remarks that sparked a heated clash with army chief Eyal Zamir, who warned such political directives were militarily unrealistic. Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir accused Zamir of weakness, while Netanyahu and senior ministers remained silent under mounting US pressure.
On Saturday, Gantz urged Netanyahu, Lapid, and Avigdor Lieberman to form a six-month government to focus on the captives and the conscription law before holding early elections. "I know they will say I want to save Netanyahu, but that is not true. I want to save the captives," Gantz said.
However, with Netanyahu intent on expanding military operations and far-right ministers firmly opposed to any compromise with Hamas, analysts see little prospect for such an arrangement moving forward. Hamas, meanwhile, has accused Netanyahu of deliberately derailing truce efforts for domestic political gain, warning that only a ceasefire agreement can secure the release of captives.
Read more: Netanyahu deliberately derailing truce with Gaza occupation: Hamas
