Meanwhile, in what appears to be a major foreign policy development, the Trump administration has presented a 21-point plan to end the war in Gaza.
President Donald Trump has talked up the prospects of a ceasefire in recent days, as we’ve reported.
The reaction to his plan in Israel has been mixed.
Far-right opposition: Israel’s far-right minister of national security called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to reject the plan.
“Mr. Prime Minister, you do not have a mandate to end the war without a complete defeat of Hamas,” Itamar Ben Gvir wrote on X yesterday.
Ben Gvir and far-right minister Bezalel Smotrich consistently opposed hostage deals and ceasefire arrangements throughout the Gaza war, pressing instead for continued and intensified military pressure and full occupation of the territory. The two have threatened to topple Netanyahu’s government if the war ends.
Other lawmakers have expressed openness: Foreign Minister Gideon Saar expressed support for Netanyahu and plans to end the war, saying on X that he trusts Netanyahu “to represent Israel’s interests.”
Netanyahu’s ultra-orthodox coalition partners, like Chairman of Degel HaTorah, MK Moshe Gafni, also have come out in support of a hostage deal resulting in a ceasefire.
And Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid — who has repeatedly stated he would grant a “security net” to Netanyahu in favor of a hostage deal that would prevent the government from collapsing — said to disregard the far-right ministers’ comments, writing on X, “There is no reason to be alarmed by the empty threats of Ben Gvir and Smotrich.”