Israel opposition chief urges end to Gaza war

Israeli opposition chief Yair Lapid on Monday called for an end to the protracted war in Gaza, urging Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to declare a conclusion to the conflict that has now stretched beyond 20 months.

Speaking to lawmakers from his Yesh Atid party, Lapid said the war no longer served Israel's strategic interests. “There is no longer any benefit for the State of Israel in continuing the war in Gaza — only harm to our security, diplomacy, and economy,” he stated.

Lapid added that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) share that view. “Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir appeared before the cabinet and made it clear: the military has no further objectives in Gaza. The decision now lies with the political leadership.”

The call for an end to hostilities follows the rapid conclusion of Israel’s confrontation with Iran last week, which ended in a ceasefire brokered under intense international pressure. That agreement has heightened expectations for a similar resolution in Gaza.

Foreign leaders, including U.S. President Donald Trump and former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, have urged Netanyahu to use the momentum from the Iran ceasefire to pursue a diplomatic exit from the Gaza conflict.

The war began on October 7, 2023, after Hamas launched a large-scale surprise attack that killed 1,219 people in Israel, most of them civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures. In response, Israel launched a devastating military campaign in the Gaza Strip aimed at dismantling Hamas.

Despite over a year and a half of intense fighting, Hamas remains entrenched in Gaza, prompting critics to question the war's effectiveness.

“Hamas will not be eliminated unless an alternative governing authority is established in Gaza,” Lapid said, advocating for a regional approach involving Egypt and other Arab nations.

Public sentiment in Israel appears to be shifting. A poll conducted by public broadcaster Kan after last week's Iran ceasefire found that nearly two-thirds of respondents favored ending the Gaza war.

In the wake of that ceasefire, IDF leadership announced it would refocus military efforts on Gaza. Netanyahu, however, reiterated his commitment to defeating Hamas and securing the release of remaining hostages.

"The successful campaign against Iran has created new opportunities, including for the return of hostages," Netanyahu said Sunday. "We will also have to resolve the Gaza issue and defeat Hamas — and I believe we will achieve both."

During the October 7 attack, Palestinian militants abducted 251 hostages. According to the Israeli military, 49 remain in captivity in Gaza, with 27 of them presumed dead.

Israel’s retaliatory military campaign has killed at least 56,531 people in Gaza, mostly civilians, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory. The United Nations considers those figures credible.