Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government to adopt the 'Egypt Plan' for Gaza Strip administration and Hamas disarmament in an X post during the 9:17 PM to 10:45 PM UTC window on January 17, 2026, citing a recent gas agreement as a potential first step. Lapid stated he presented the plan to the U.S. administration, European Union, Gulf leaders, and Egyptians in February 2025, emphasizing Egypt's past management of Gaza, shared border, security cooperation, and opposition to the Muslim Brotherhood. He criticized Netanyahu's prior refusal, which led to Turkey and Qatar's inclusion in U.S. President Donald Trump's peace efforts, according to his X post at https://x.com/yairlapid/status/2001680875172286496. This statement follows Netanyahu's office rejection earlier on January 17, 2026, of the Gaza Executive Committee's composition including Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Qatari official Ali al-Thawadi, as reported by i24NEWS and Israeli sources. Lapid described Turkey and Qatar as ideological partners of the Muslim Brotherhood. In a separate social media development during the same window, X user HowidyHamza posted that Gazans followed a trend among Iranian women of lighting cigarettes from burning photos of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, quoting it as a political gesture of contempt, according to https://x.com/HowidyHamza/status/2012606152534618568.
