Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he was close to reaching an agreement with the terrorist group Hamas over the release of hostages and that there would be a ceasefire if that happened. The statement came during an interview with the Prime Minister on CBS.
However, Netanyahu stressed that he could not elaborate on the details of the possible agreement. “We are closer to an agreement than before the ground operations began,” he said. “The ground action has put pressure on Hamas to seek a ceasefire. We will have a ceasefire when we get our hostages. I don’t think that serves the purpose.” [da negociação] Elaborate on it,” he added during an interview held on Thursday (17).
According to Israeli authorities, Hamas terrorists captured around 240 people in the October 7 attack on the country. Only four hostages were released, including two Americans. Negotiations for the release are being brokered by Qatar, where offices of Hamas’ political wing are based, as Israel does not speak to the group.
Asked whether the deal would include exchanging Palestinian prisoners for hostages, Netanyahu remained silent, claiming the details of the negotiation were confidential.
The prime minister also stressed that Israel is operating in the Gaza Strip and trying to “keep civilian casualties as low as possible” and that it has no intention of occupying the territory. “We want full military accountability to prevent a resurgence of terror,” he told CBS.
“We don’t want to occupy. That is not our goal. Our goal is to make sure what happens there is different. To achieve this, we must demilitarize Gaza and deradicalize Gaza.”
For Netanyahu, ending the terror group would give Palestinians a “real future.” However, the Prime Minister did not answer whether he supports the twostate solution. “I say that the Palestinians have all the power to govern themselves, but no power to threaten Israel,” he replied.
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