Tel Aviv, 4 September 2024 (dpa/MIA) – Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid called on Wednesday for a deal with Hamas to end the war in the Gaza Strip and free the hostages still being held by the Palestinian group.

“Ending the war is in Israel’s interest,” Lapid posted in Hebrew on X.

At the same time he repeated his call for a change in Israel’s political leadership. “The war will continue for as long as this government exists,” he said. The government does not want peace, the former prime minister and head of the centrist Yesh Atid party added.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir of the right-wing extremist Otzma Yehudit party, said earlier that he was working to put an end to current indirect talks with Hamas on a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

Israel should not negotiate with murderers, Ben-Gvir said.

Over the weekend, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced the discovery of the bodies of six hostages, provoking a wave of grief and anger in Israel. According to media reports, the hostages had been shot at close range between 48 and 72 hours before their bodies were found.

The news brought hundreds of thousands of protesters onto the streets. They demanded a deal to secure the release of the remaining hostages. Further demonstrations were planned for Wednesday.

Relatives of the hostages have accused the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of sabotaging attempts at mediation by the United States, Egypt and Qatar with the aim of securing an agreement.

Photo: MIA archive