The leader of the Israeli opposition, the centrist Yair Lapidcalled today from Washington to reach an agreement on a ceasefire in Gauze which will allow the release of the hostages, stressing that “political interests must be put aside”.

“I think all political interests should be put aside for this reason. This is much more important,” he told reporters after meeting with the US secretary of state. Anthony Blinken at the State Department.

“Israel needs the hostage deal and no political process or political unrest should affect the hostage deal. We have to get them back home,” he added.

“We will do everything necessary to ensure that there is an agreement for the hostages,” Lapid stressed. “It is possible. We can make a deal for the hostages and we must.”

Lapid, a former prime minister, repeated his pledge not to seek to topple Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.

While denouncing Hamas, Lapid stated that the Netanyahu’s government “should do more” to reach this agreement.

After the announcement on September 1 of Israel that Hamas killed six hostages, one of whom was an American citizen, the Biden administration further stepped up its efforts to bring about a ceasefire in Gaza, with no success so far. Negotiations by the mediating countries – the United States, Egypt, Qatar – remain deadlocked, while Israel and Hamas accuse each other of not wanting a deal.

US officials said the two main points of friction remain the Philadelphia corridor and the details surrounding the release of Palestinian prisoners held in Israel following new demands by Hamas.

Prime Minister Netanyahu has said Israel should retain control of a corridor on the border between the Gaza Strip and Egypt, which Cairo, among others, opposes.

The United States is working on a new compromise proposal “aimed at filling the remaining gaps,” State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters today. “We continue to discuss with our partners in the region, specifically Egypt and Qatar, about what the proposal will contain,” he said. “We are trying to ensure that this proposal will allow the parties to reach a final agreement.”