Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has firmly rejected the conditions set by Hamas to end the ongoing conflict and secure the release of hostages in Gaza. The demands, which include a complete Israeli withdrawal and leaving Hamas in power, were swiftly dismissed by Netanyahu, who labeled them as terms of surrender.
As Israeli airstrikes resumed in Khan Younis, located in the southern Gaza Strip, senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri told reporters that Netanyahu’s refusal to halt the military offensive signaled bleak prospects for the return of Israeli captives.
“In exchange for the release of our hostages, Hamas demands the end of the war, the withdrawal of our forces from Gaza, the release of all the murderers and rapists, and leaving Hamas intact,” Netanyahu stated in a press release. “I reject outright the terms of surrender of the monsters of Hamas.”
A previous agreement brokered in late November by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt led to the release of over 100 out of an estimated 240 hostages held in Gaza. However, mounting pressure now surrounds the remaining 136 hostages, with the Hostages and Missing Persons Families Forum urging Netanyahu to clarify his stance and not abandon those kidnapped in the October incident.
At a protest outside Netanyahu’s residence, relatives of the hostages voiced their demands for immediate action. Jon Polin, the father of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, emphasized the need for the government to rectify the situation they had created and bring the hostages home promptly.
Netanyahu also took a more assertive stance on the issue of Palestinian statehood, asserting, “I will not compromise on full Israeli security control of all territory west of the Jordan River.” This statement follows recent discussions between Netanyahu and U.S. President Joe Biden, who suggested potential solutions for the creation of an independent Palestinian state with a non-militarized government.
The Israeli Prime Minister appeared to push back against Biden’s remarks, highlighting their differences on the matter of Palestinian statehood. In Sunday’s statement, Netanyahu reiterated his insistence on full Israeli security control over the territory west of the Jordan River, citing years of standing firm against both international and internal pressures.
“My insistence is what prevented for years the establishment of a Palestinian state that would have posed an existential danger to Israel,” Netanyahu affirmed. As tensions escalate and negotiations continue, the region awaits developments in the effort to resolve the conflict and secure the release of remaining hostages.
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