Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid on Sunday accused the government of thwarting a prisoner swap deal in Gaza, saying Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was "putting political considerations ahead of returning the kidnapped (Gaza prisoners) and Israel's security."

"I hope that what happened several times before, in April and July, will not happen, that whenever we got closer to a deal, the Netanyahu government set new conditions and thwarted the process," Lapid said in an interview with the official Israeli Broadcasting Authority.

He added: "I don't understand the whole talk, about a partial deal, why don't we go to a comprehensive deal, why don't we return all the kidnapped and stop the war."

"We have nothing to look for anymore in Gaza, and we must start preparing for the day after the war, and bring 100 kidnapped people home," Lapid said.

He continued: "We will always be able to enter the Gaza Strip after the end of the war and do whatever we want... Now the war must be stopped, a deal must be concluded and all the kidnapped must be returned."