Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid has urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to prioritize implementing a ceasefire and hostage release deal without fear or intimidation. Lapid emphasized the importance of the deal over any past disagreements between them.
His message to Netanyahu followed threats from Israel's Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben Gvir, who warned of pulling his party from the governing coalition if the ceasefire and hostage deal with Hamas proceeded. Additionally, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich's Religious Zionism Party demanded Israel's return to war to destroy Hamas and secure the release of hostages immediately after the initial phase of the deal to remain in the government.
If both parties withdraw from Netanyahu's coalition, it could lead to the collapse of the government. The Israeli cabinet plans to conduct a full vote on the ceasefire-hostage agreement on Saturday, with a smaller security cabinet meeting scheduled for Friday to vote on the deal.
