Ammon News - 69% of Israelis support ending the war in exchange for a deal that releases all remaining hostages in Gaza, compared to 21% who oppose such a trade, according to a poll aired by Channel 12 Friday.

Even among coalition voters, a majority (54%) back such a move compared to 32% who oppose it.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government has long refused any suggestion of ending the war in exchange for the return of the 59 remaining hostages, saying the fighting can only end when the Hamas terror group is removed from power and can no longer pose a threat to Israel.

Of those 59 hostages, 24 are still believed to be alive.

The government also refused to hold negotiations on a potential second phase of the ceasefire deal — though it had agreed to do so under the original agreement. The second phase would have seen the release of the remaining living hostages in exchange for a permanent end to the war and a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. The deal’s third phase envisioned the release of bodies held by both sides.

Netanyahu instead has sought to secure the release of additional hostages through an extension of phase one’s temporary ceasefire, which would allow Israel to later resume fighting against Hamas. Times of Israel