Politics

Israeli Opposition Leaders Call for End to Gaza War After Iran Ceasefire

By Nnanna Emmanuel

Israeli opposition leaders Yair Lapid and Yair Golan have called for an immediate end to the Gaza conflict following the announcement of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Iran.

Yesh Atid party leader and Opposition Leader Yair Lapid released a statement on Monday night saying, "And now Gaza. It's time to [finish] there too. Return the hostages, end the war. Israel needs to start rebuilding."

Lapid's remarks came shortly after the Israeli government confirmed it had accepted a U.S.-brokered, Qatar-mediated bilateral ceasefire with Iran, with Israeli officials declaring Operation Rising Lion a strategic success.

Calls for Comprehensive Peace

Democrats party chairman Yair Golan echoed Lapid's sentiments, posting on X (formerly Twitter): "The campaign against Iran ended with a clear security achievement, which would not have been possible if Israel were not a democratic, strong, and united state."

Golan emphasized that the ceasefire agreement with Iran "must now be scrutinized: Does it prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, and what sanctions, including renewed fighting, will be imposed if it is violated?"

He further stressed the need to "complete the mission: Return all the hostages, end the war in Gaza, and stop once and for all the coup that threatens to make Israel weak, divided, and vulnerable."

U.S. Mediation Role

The calls for ending the Gaza conflict come after U.S. President Donald Trump announced the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Iran. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu confirmed that Israel had agreed to Trump's proposal, marking a significant diplomatic breakthrough in the region.

The development represents a potential turning point in regional tensions, with opposition leaders now pushing to extend the diplomatic momentum to resolve the ongoing Gaza conflict.

As the situation continues to evolve, the focus now shifts to whether this ceasefire with Iran could catalyze broader peace initiatives in the region, particularly regarding the return of hostages and cessation of hostilities in Gaza.

Stay connected with BenriNews for the latest updates on this developing story.