A collected photo of Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid

JERUSALEM, June 30, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid 
on Monday urged an end to more than 20 months of war in Gaza, as Prime 
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces mounting calls to halt the fighting.

Following the swift conclusion of Israel's war against Iran with a ceasefire 
last week, foreign leaders such as US President Donald Trump as well as 
Israeli ex-prime minister Naftali Bennett have pressed Netanyahu to find a 
similar off-ramp in the fight with Hamas.

"There is no longer any benefit for the State of Israel from continuing the 
war in Gaza. Only damage on the security, political and economic level," 
Lapid told a meeting of lawmakers from his parliamentary group.

"This is also the position of the army," he added.

"Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir appeared before the cabinet yesterday and said 
that the political echelon needs to decide on the next objective. The meaning 
of this sentence is, the army has no more objectives in Gaza."

The war in Gaza was triggered by Hamas's unprecedented attack on Israel on 
October 7, 2023, which resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, mostly 
civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures.

Israel has vowed to destroy the Islamist movement, but after more than a year 
and a half of devastating war, Hamas is still hanging on in the Gaza Strip.

"Hamas will not be eliminated as long as an alternative government is not 
brought into Gaza," Lapid said, suggesting enlisting the help of Egypt and 
other Arab countries.

A public opinion poll published the day after Tuesday's ceasefire with Iran 
by public broadcaster Kan showed that nearly two-thirds of respondents wanted 
the Gaza war to end.

Following the Iran ceasefire, Israel's army chief said the military's focus 
would shift back to Gaza.

Netanyahu said Sunday that the successful Iran campaign had created 
"opportunities", including for freeing the hostages.

"Of course, we will also have to solve the Gaza issue, to defeat Hamas, but I 
estimate that we will achieve both goals," he added.

Palestinian militants seized 251 hostages during Hamas's attack on Israel on 
October 7, 2023. Of these, 49 are still believed to be held in Gaza, 
including 27 the Israeli military says are dead.

Israel's retaliatory campaign has killed at least 56,531 people in Gaza, also 
mostly civilians, according to the Hamas-run territory's health ministry. The 
United Nations considers these figures to be reliable.