Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejects Hamas demands to end the Gaza war in exchange for hostages, stating it would leave the militant group in power.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated his firm stance against Hamas demands on Sunday, asserting that ending the ongoing Gaza conflict in exchange for freeing hostages would leave Hamas in control, which he deems a continuous threat to Israel. Netanyahu emphasized Israel’s readiness to temporarily cease combat to secure the release of over 130 hostages held by Hamas but refused to agree to the broader demands of the militant group.
“While Israel has shown willingness, Hamas remains entrenched in its extreme positions, first among them the demand to remove all our forces from the Gaza Strip, end the war, and leave Hamas in power,” Netanyahu stated. He expressed concerns that meeting these demands would enable Hamas to perpetrate further violence. “Hamas would be able to achieve its promise of carrying out again and again and again its massacres, rapes, and kidnappings,” he said.
In Cairo, the deadlock continued as Hamas leaders engaged in a second day of truce talks with Egyptian and Qatari mediators. According to Palestinian officials, there was no progress as Hamas maintained its stance that any ceasefire agreement must include an end to the war in Gaza.
The conflict, which erupted following a surprise attack by Hamas on southern Israel on October 7, has resulted in severe casualties. Israeli figures indicate that the initial assault resulted in 1,200 deaths and 252 hostages. The subsequent Israeli military response has led to over 34,600 Palestinian deaths and has devastated Gaza, exacerbating an already dire humanitarian crisis, as reported by Gaza’s health ministry.
