Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday ruled out a ceasefire in the war against Hamas before the “elimination” of the Palestinian Islamist movement, which has called for an end to fighting to free hostages.
• Also read: Gaza: Hamas leader arrives in Egypt for ceasefire talks
“We will continue the war until the end. It will continue like this until Hamas is eliminated, until victory. Those who think we will stop are out of touch with reality,” Mr. Netanyahu said in a video released by his office.
“We will not stop the fighting until we achieve all the goals we have set for ourselves: eliminating Hamas, releasing our hostages and eliminating the threat from Gaza,” he said.
“We are attacking Hamas with fire, hellish fire. Everywhere, even today. We also attack their followers from near and far. All Hamas terrorists, from the first to the last, are dead men. They only have two options: surrender or die,” he said.
His statements come as Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh began talks in Egypt on Wednesday about a cessation of fighting, the release of hostages among those held by his movement in Gaza and the delivery of more humanitarian aid to the besieged area would enable.
A Hamas official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AFP in Gaza on Wednesday that a “full ceasefire and withdrawal of the Israeli occupation army from Gaza was a prerequisite for serious negotiations on an exchange” of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners.
Mr Netanyahu's comments also come against the backdrop of discussions at the United Nations over a draft Security Council resolution to speed up aid deliveries to Gaza.
The vote has already been postponed twice and members are searching for the right formula to avoid a veto by the United States, Israel's main ally. The text, which initially called for an “urgent and permanent cessation of hostilities” in Gaza, now speaks of a “suspension” of hostilities.