Tel Aviv: Following Israel’s announcement of a ceasefire agreement with Iran, opposition leader Yair Lapid has called for an immediate end to the war in Gaza, which has dragged on for over 20 months.
“And now Gaza. It’s time to finish it there too. Bring back the hostages, end the war,” Lapid posted on X (formerly Twitter), urging Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to shift focus toward halting military operations against Hamas.
The call comes hours after Israel confirmed it had agreed to a “bilateral ceasefire” with Iran, brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump. The truce followed nearly two weeks of high-intensity conflict between the two regional powers, raising fears of a broader Middle East war.
In a statement late Monday, the Israeli government said Netanyahu had convened the cabinet to declare the success of Operation “Rising Lion,” claiming that the mission had eliminated “an immediate dual existential threat: nuclear and ballistic.”
“Israel thanks President Trump and the United States for their support in defence and for their participation in removing the Iranian nuclear threat,” the statement read, while also warning that any breach of the ceasefire would provoke a strong response.
President Trump confirmed the ceasefire is now active, posting on his Truth Social platform, “THE CEASEFIRE IS NOW IN EFFECT. PLEASE DO NOT VIOLATE IT!” According to Trump, the truce began with Iran halting operations at 0400 GMT Tuesday, followed by Israel 12 hours later in a phased process.
Lapid’s remarks reflect growing domestic pressure on the Netanyahu government to de-escalate multiple fronts. Analysts suggest that with the Iran threat neutralized for now, political and public attention may turn toward resolving the long-standing Gaza conflict and securing the return of Israeli hostages.
As the ceasefire with Iran holds for now, the future of the Gaza war remains uncertain—but pressure for peace is mounting.
