Yair Lapid has pledged to support the Israeli government in approving a possible deal with Hamas that would bring back captives, amid reports that far-right ministers Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich were threatening to pull out of the ruling coalition if the offensive on Rafah is called off for such an agreement, Al Jazeera reports.

“Netanyahu, you have a majority among the people for a deal. And you have a majority in the Knesset for a deal. If you need to get rid of Ben Gvir and Smotrich, I will give you 24 votes in the government,” Lapid wrote on X, referring to the number of seats his Yesh Atid party controls.

“We must bring them home,” he added.

Opinion

Editorial

New regional order
Updated 11 May, 2026

New regional order

The fact is that the US has only one true security commitment in the Middle East — Israel.
A better start
11 May, 2026

A better start

THE first 1,000 days of a child’s life often shape decades to come. In Pakistan, where chronic malnutrition has...
Widening gap
11 May, 2026

Widening gap

PAKISTAN’S monthly trade deficit ballooned to $4.07bn last month, its highest level since June 2022, further...
Momentary relief
Updated 10 May, 2026

Momentary relief

THE IMF’s approval of the latest review of Pakistan’s ongoing Fund programme comes at a moment of growing global...
India’s global shame
10 May, 2026

India’s global shame

INDIA’s rabid streak is at an all-time high. Prejudice is now an organised movement to erase religious freedoms ...
Aurat March restrictions
Updated 10 May, 2026

Aurat March restrictions

The message could not have been clearer: women may gather, but only if they remain politically harmless.