Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ruled out a ceasefire for the Gaza Strip before the “elimination” of the Palestinian Islamic organization Hamas. “We will not stop fighting until we achieve all the goals we have set for ourselves,” Netanyahu said today.
These are “the elimination of Hamas, the release of our hostages and the end of the threat from the Gaza Strip.”
Netanyahu said Israeli forces would attack Hamas members “anywhere” in the Gaza Strip. “Anyone who thinks we will stop is out of touch with reality,” Netanyahu added. “We are attacking Hamas with fire – an inferno,” he continued. “We also attacked his accomplices from near and far.”
The Israeli leader's comments came after Hamas leader Ismail Haniya traveled to Egypt to hold talks on a possible new ceasefire. Egypt is considered an important mediator between Israel and the Palestinians.
Gaza resolution postponed again
At the international level, a new vote in the UN Security Council was also expected on a resolution calling for a ceasefire. But it was postponed again. Negotiations will continue and the vote on the text is now scheduled for tomorrow, the president of the Security Council, José Javier De La Gasca López-Dominguez, announced today in New York. The aim of the resolution presented by the United Arab Emirates is to call for a ceasefire.