Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid intensified his campaign to end the 20-month war in Gaza, telling Sky News Arabia that continued fighting “serves no one” and could conclude within 24 hours if Hamas surrenders its arms. Lapid urged regional governments to press Hamas to accept a deal and said Israel must present a post-war governance plan for the enclave. “The government is failing to convert battlefield gains into a political resolution,” he said, echoing remarks he delivered earlier this week in the Knesset. Lapid offered Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a parliamentary “safety net” to approve any agreement that secures the release of the remaining Israeli hostages, directly challenging hard-right ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich. The two coalition partners are organising opposition to a reported 60-day ceasefire proposal endorsed by the United States and, according to Israeli media, tentatively accepted by Netanyahu after last month’s Iran ceasefire. In a parallel development that could ease pressure on Israel’s northern front, Saudi-owned channel Al-Hadath reported that Hezbollah is prepared to hand over its heavy weapons in exchange for binding Israeli guarantees of non-aggression. Multiple outlets carried similar accounts, though neither Hezbollah nor the Israeli government has formally confirmed the offer. The Gaza conflict has killed about 56,531 Palestinians, mostly civilians, according to figures from the enclave’s Health Ministry that the United Nations deems credible. Israel says 442 of its soldiers have fallen since the ground operation began in October 2023, and 49 hostages remain in Gaza, 27 of whom are presumed dead. Domestic polls indicate nearly two-thirds of Israelis support ending the war, adding to the political pressure on Netanyahu’s coalition.