ISRAEL – Benjamin Netanyahu has been accused by Yair Golan, the leader of the Israeli Democratic Party, of obstructing Gaza ceasefire and prisoner swap to save his position together with his far-right allies.

“The New York Times investigation only reinforces what everyone already knows: Netanyahu, (Finance Minister Bazalel Yoel) Smotrich, and (National Security Minister Itamar) Ben Gvir are preventing a deal to survive politically,” Golan wrote on X.

The opposition leader said that “the lives of hostages and soldiers are less important to them than their positions.”

Golan pointed out that Netanyahu, Smotrich, and Ben-Gvir are “an extreme minority dragging an entire country into the abyss. They are once again derailing the deal.”

He demanded the government be toppled, saying, “To save lives and the country, the government must be brought down.”

The remarks were in response to an investigation Friday by The New York Times that revealed Netanyahu chose his coalition partners and sought to maintain power at the expense of hostage release deals.

Hamas said Wednesday it agreed to release 10 living Israeli captives as a sign of “flexibility” to reaching a ceasefire and prisoner swap agreement, while Israel remains rigid on key points, including its withdrawal from Gaza.

In contrast, Israel insists on a buffer zone 2 to 3 kilometers (1.2 – 1.9 miles) wide in the Rafah area, and 1 to 2 kilometers in other border areas.