1 of 1 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. — Photo: JN The Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu. — Photo: JN
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected the conditions set by Hamas to end the war and release the hostageswhich would involve the complete withdrawal of Israel and Hamas, which remains in power in Gaza.
As Israeli aircraft resumed bombing raids on Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, Sami Abu Zuhri, a senior Hamas official, told Portal The Israeli leader's refusal to end the military offensive in Gaza “means there is no chance for the prisoners to return.” (Israelis).”
“In return for the release of our hostages, Hamas is demanding an end to the war, the withdrawal of our forces from Gaza and the release of all murderers and rapists,” Netanyahu said in a statement. “And leave Hamas intact.”
“I strongly reject the surrender terms of the Hamas monsters,” Netanyahu said.
An agreement negotiated at the end of November between the USA, Qatar and Egypt led to this Release of more than 100 of the approximately 240 hostages taken to Gaza in an attack by Hamas militants on October 7 in exchange for the release of 240 Palestinians held in Israeli prisons.
Since the end of the deal, Netanyahu has faced increasing pressure to secure the release of the 136 hostages still held captive.
Netanyahu also took a more decisive stance than before on the issue of Palestinian statehood.
“I will not give up full control of Israeli security in all areas west of the Jordan,” he said.
US President Joe Biden said on Friday (19) that he had spoken with Netanyahu about possible solutions for the creation of an independent Palestinian state, suggesting that one path could include a nonmilitarized government.
On Saturday, Netanyahu appeared to respond to Biden's comments about creating a Palestinian state after the end of the war against Hamas in Gaza, as both hold different positions on the idea of a state for the Palestinians, a solution that Biden has defended as a longterm peace.
In his statement on Sunday, Netanyahu reiterated that he would insist on “full Israeli security control over the entire area west of Jordan.”
Netanyahu said he faced “international and domestic pressure” to change that position.
“My insistence for years prevented the establishment of a Palestinian state, which would have posed an existential threat to Israel,” Netanyahu said.
Israel says it found captivity there, where Hamas was holding some of the abductees hostage