Israeli opposition leader urges government to end war on Gaza

JERUSALEM (AA) – Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid has called for a deal with Hamas to bring back Israeli captives from Gaza.

“Strike a deal, end the war, fix the country,” Lapid, the leader of the Yesh Atid party, said in a brief post on X.

Israel has killed nearly 41,000 Palestinians in Gaza since October 7. The genocidal military onslaught has displaced nearly the entire population of 2.3 million people, and led to famine-like conditions and spread of disease.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says his military must retain control over Gaza’s southern border area with Egypt – known as the Philadelphi Corridor – a position that threatens to derail cease-fire efforts.

Critics say Netanyahu is blocking the deal out of fear that his government might collapse.

Mickey Levy, a Knesset member from Lapid’s party, told Israeli public radio: “Until May, the Philadelphi Corridor wasn’t even on the table.”

“The fear of the government collapsing and fear of (far-right National Security Minister Itamar) Ben Gvir and (far-right Finance Minister Bezalel) Smotrich, who have Netanyahu by the throat, is what led to this situation,” he added.

Levy warned that remaining in control of the Philadelphi Corridor could lead to the needless deaths of many Israeli soldiers.

A poll released by Israel’s Channel 12 revealed that 60% of Israelis believe that securing a deal to bring back those held in Gaza is more important than holding onto the Philadelphi Corridor.

Egypt, a mediator in the cease-fire talks along with the US and Qatar, has also demanded a timeline for Israel’s withdrawal from the corridor.