Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid said that there are prisoners of his citizens "still alive in Gaza" and that a deal must be pushed for their return "before it is too late."

In a post on his X account on Sunday, Lapid said: “The war in Gaza must end and the kidnapped must be returned.”

He continued: "If it is possible to end the war in Lebanon, then of course it is possible to end the war in Gaza and return the kidnapped people."

The ceasefire agreement between Hezbollah and Israel went into effect at 4:00 a.m. on Wednesday, Beirut time, ending fighting between the two sides that had continued since October 8, 2023, and had expanded in scope in the last two months.

Lapid stressed that "Israel's duty is to conclude a deal to return the kidnapped soldiers."

The opposition, the families of the prisoners, and a large segment of the Israeli street accuse Netanyahu of obstructing reaching a deal with Hamas to return the prisoners and end the war, fearing the collapse of his government amid threats from extremist ministers to withdraw from the government coalition if that happens.

Prisoner exchange negotiations between Hamas and Israel faltered due to Netanyahu's insistence on setting conditions that include "continuing control over the Philadelphi Corridor on the border between Gaza and Egypt, the Rafah crossing, and preventing the return of Palestinian faction fighters to northern Gaza."

For its part, Hamas insists on a complete Israeli withdrawal from the Strip and a complete cessation of war to accept any agreement.