Lapid and Gantz hail deal, say all hostages must return home, promise Netanyahu political support if needed

In a video address, Opposition Leader Yair Lapid says that the “entire country is holding its breath” as it waits for the return of the hostages from Hamas captivity.

“I want to send a huge thank you on behalf of the entire country to President Trump and his team, to President Biden, to the Qataris and the Egyptians, due to whom this is happening and without whom it would not have happened,” he says of the newly confirmed hostage-ceasefire deal.

Lapid insists that the deal must not be halted after the first phase and reiterates his oft-repeated promise to provide Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with a political “safety net until the last moment, until the last hostage.”

“Everyone must return home,” he states.

For his part, National Unity chairman Benny Gantz welcomes the hostage deal with Hamas, declaring that his heart and those of the entire Israeli people are with the families of the hostages.

“As I said, National Unity will support the move publicly, and if necessary – also politically,” Gantz tweets.

“We must take advantage of the period of the implementation of the first stage [of the deal] to reach an arrangement that will return all our abductees and apply political pressure to replace the Hamas government. It is possible.”