Opposition leaders promise to give Netanyahu ‘full backing’ to bring home all remaining hostages

In a joint statement, Opposition Leader Yair Lapid, National Unity party leader Benny Gantz and Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Liberman promise Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “full public and political backing” to bring back all the remaining hostages from Hamas captivity.

“Returning the hostages is the most urgent mission. We say to the prime minister, you have full backing from the opposition to return everyone, down to the last hostage,” the three opposition party leaders say following the return today of the final living six hostages slated for release in the ongoing first stage of the ceasefire with Hamas.

The far-right Religious Zionism party, a coalition partner, has threatened to quit the coalition and topple the government if Israel does not renew its military offensive against Hamas after the final release of the first phase is completed on Thursday, consisting of four bodies of dead captives.

Lapid, Gantz and Liberman also call for the return of all remaining hostages after the first phase “in one go” — instead of the series of releases of a few hostages at a time every week as seen in the first phase — saying they “promise full public and political backing” for such a step.

“Returning the hostages is a moral order that also has value in continuing the war against Hamas, which will still take a long time,” they add, in support of further military action in Gaza against the terror group after all hostages are finally returned.