Israeli minister says hostage deal with Hamas would be ‘humiliation’ as Netanyahu offered ‘political safety net’ by opposition – live

Yair Lapid says he will offer Benjamin Netanyahu political support if he reaches a hostage deal after fears such a move could lead to collapse of government

Israeli far-right finance minister Bezalel Smotrich has said making a ceasefire deal would be a senseless folly" and instead Israel should press on in its military campaign against Hamas.

He posted to social media to say:

Hamas is collapsing and begging for a ceasefire. This is the time to squeeze the neck until we crush and break the enemy. To stop now, just before the end, and let them recover to fight us again is a senseless folly that will take the achievements of the war bought with much blood down the drain. We must continue until victory.