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Pakistani army: 6 soldiers and 7 militants killed in clash near the Afghan border
Israeli media: Sirens sound in the settlement of Kerem Shalom in the Gaza envelope area
Afghan source to Al Mayadeen: We still believe in dialogue and prioritize diplomatic solutions with Pakistan; though we are ready for all possibilities.
Afghan source to Al Mayadeen: Pakistan purposely obstructed negotiations in Turkey by making unrealistic demands.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: More than 70 martyrs in Israeli attacks on Gaza since dawn.
Death toll from latest Israeli strikes on Gaza rises to 30
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Five killed in the Israeli bombing of a civilian vehicle on Al-Qassam Street in Khan Younis, south of the Gaza Strip
Hamas confirms that it has no connection to the shooting incident in Rafah and affirms its commitment to the ceasefire agreement
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Two civilians were killed and four others, including a child and an infant, were injured in an Israeli bombing of a house belonging to the Al-Banna family in the al-Sabra neighborhood, south of Gaza City
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: An Israeli airstrike targets the vicinity of Al-Shifa Medical Complex, west of Gaza City

Netanyahu stalls ceasefire deal as Hamas agrees, captives die: Lapid

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Al Mayadeen
  • 25 Aug 2025 11:47
3 Min Read

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.

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"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

  • war on Gaza
  • Benjamin Netanyahu
  • Yair Lapid
  • Gaza ceasefire
  • Hamas
  • Israeli captives
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