Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is now facing mounting pressure to reach a ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip to free the remaining hostages and end the war before the Israeli military launches operations to capture Gaza City.
Read: Israel: Opposition calls on Netanyahu to form coalition government “to save the hostages”
The far-right politicians participating in Netanyahu’s coalition government are categorically opposed to striking a deal with Hamas, with media reporting that far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich told hostage families he would leave the coalition if the Israeli prime minister agrees to a ceasefire.
Meanwhile, on Saturday, the leader of the center-right National Unity party, Benny Gantz, proposed to Netanyahu the formation of a temporary government lasting six months “for the redemption of the hostages.”
“I call on Netanyahu, Yair Lapid and Avigdor Lieberman. It’s time to form a government for the redemption of the captives,” Gantz said, referring to the release of approximately fifty hostages, dead or alive, who are still in the Palestinian enclave.
After the ultra-Orthodox parties left the government coalition in July, Netanyahu no longer has an absolute majority in the Knesset and depends on his far-right allies, who reject any agreement with Hamas and favor continuing the war until the Palestinian organization is eliminated.
Lapid, the leader of the largest opposition party, the centrist Yesh Atid (“There is a Future”), has 24 lawmakers in parliament. Lieberman, of the nationalist Israel Beiteinu party (“Israel is Our Home”), has eight seats, the same as Gantz. Together with Netanyahu’s right-wing Likud party’s 32 lawmakers, the three parties could form a coalition government with a majority of 72 seats in the 120-member Knesset.
“If Netanyahu doesn’t agree, then we’ll know we’ve done everything,” Gantz emphasized.
According to observers, it’s unlikely the Israeli prime minister will accept this proposal.
Gantz explained that this government would begin its work by reaching an agreement for the return of approximately 50 hostages who continue to be
held in Gaza, 20 of whom are believed to still be alive.
“Our state’s duty is to save the lives of Jews and all citizens. Every hostage at risk of dying could be our son, our daughter,” Gantz stressed.
Elections would then be called to take place in spring 2026, on a date all parties would agree upon, he added.
Although Benny Gantz, former Israeli military chief, called for an agreement with Hamas for hostage release, he did not call for ending the war.
“The Hamas terrorists who are starving the hostages must die, like the Nazis. We will hunt them until their last day. But above all, we will save our brothers,” he emphasized.
Furthermore, Gantz noted that this temporary unity government should adopt a law “for a military service framework that will include our ultra-Orthodox brothers as well.”
Ultra-Orthodox Jews largely avoid military service, which is mandatory at age 18 in Israel for men and women, an exemption that causes reactions among Israelis, especially in wartime.
Gantz explained he made this appeal without previously informing those concerned, while Netanyahu, Lapid and Lieberman have not yet made any public comments.
New demonstrations in Israel for ending the war
At the same time, tens of thousands of Israelis demonstrated, as every Saturday night, in Tel Aviv demanding the government end the war and reach an agreement for hostage release.
“Instead of saving lives, Netanyahu condemns the surviving hostages to death and condemns us to an eternal and useless war,” said protester Yotam Cohen, brother of Nimrod Cohen, one of the hostages remaining in Gaza who is believed to still be alive.
“Our children have been held in Gaza for 687 days,” denounced Einav Zangauker, whose son Matan was kidnapped by Hamas during its attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.
“I appeal to the people of Israel: Netanyahu can sign an agreement today and bring back 10 living hostages and 18 bodies,” she added, referring to the most recent ceasefire agreement, which Hamas has accepted.
The Palestinian organization accepted on Monday a draft agreement that provides for a 60-day ceasefire during which Israeli hostages, living and dead, would be released in two stages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.
On Thursday evening, Netanyahu announced he had requested “immediate” negotiations “for the release of all hostages and ending the war on terms Israel accepts,” without however referring to the mediators’ proposal.
The Israeli government has not yet confirmed sending a negotiating team for a new round of talks.
