Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday rejected the terms of a Hamas ceasefire and hostage release agreement as “delusional,” a position that complicates efforts to reach an agreement between the two sides.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to push Israel’s war against Hamas, now in its fifth month, until it achieves “absolute victory.”
Prime Minister Netanyahu made the comments shortly after meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who is touring the region with the aim of securing a ceasefire agreement.
“Giving in to Hamas’s delusional demands, which we are now hearing, will not only not lead to the release of prisoners, but will only lead to further massacres,” Netanyahu said at a nationally broadcast evening press conference. .
“We are moving towards absolute victory,” Prime Minister Netanyahu said, adding that the operation would last months, not years. “There is no other solution.”
He ruled out any deal that would leave Hamas in full or partial control of Gaza. He also said Israel is “the only great power” that can guarantee long-term security.
Blinken earlier said “a lot of work” remained to bridge the gap between Israel and Hamas over the terms of the deal. He was scheduled to hold his own press conference later Wednesday.
Hamas has presented a detailed three-phase plan that will be rolled out over four and a half months, in response to proposals made by the United States, Israel, Qatar and Egypt. The plan stipulates that all hostages would be released in exchange for hundreds of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel, including senior militants, and an end to the war.
One of Israel’s wartime goals is to destroy Hamas’s governance and military capabilities, and Hamas’ proposal would effectively allow it to maintain power in the Gaza Strip and rebuild its military capabilities. .
US President Joe Biden said Hamas’ demands were “a little excessive” but that negotiations would continue.
The deadliest fighting in the history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has killed more than 27,000 Palestinians, destroyed entire neighborhoods, forced the majority of Gaza’s population from their homes, and left a quarter of the population starving. I was driven into a corner.
Iranian-backed militant groups across the region have been attacking primarily U.S. and Israeli targets in solidarity with the Palestinians, inviting retaliation as the risk of escalation to the conflict increases.
Israel remains deeply shaken by the October 7 attack. In the attack, Hamas militants breached the country’s vaunted defenses and rampaged through southern Israel, killing about 1,200 people (mostly civilians) and abducting about 250, about half of whom are still in Gaza. Captured.
Blinken, who is making his fifth trip to the region since the outbreak of war, has sought to move forward on ceasefire talks while also making a big deal about Saudi Arabia normalizing relations with Israel in exchange for a “clear and credible agreement.” Large-scale post-war disposal is being promoted. , a time-limited path to the establishment of a Palestinian state. ”
But increasingly unpopular Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu opposes the establishment of a Palestinian state, and his hawkish coalition government could collapse if he is seen as making too many concessions. there is a possibility.
“There is a lot of work to do, but we are very focused on getting the job done,” Blinken told Israel’s ceremonial president, Isaac Herzog.
Misery deepens in devastated Gaza
In Gaza, Palestinians are desperate for an end to the fighting that has upended every aspect of their lives, but there is little talk of major diplomatic negotiations.
“We pray to God that this epidemic will stop,” said Ghazi Abu Issa, who fled his home and took shelter in the central city of Deir al-Balah. “There is no water, electricity, food or toilets.” People living in tents are drenched by winter rains and floods. “We have been humiliated,” he said.
New moms are having a hard time getting powdered milk and diapers, which, if they can be found, come at very high prices. Despite the health risks, some people resort to giving solid food to infants under 6 months of age.
The death toll of Palestinians in the four-month war has reached 27,707, according to the Hamas-controlled health ministry. This includes 123 bodies taken to hospitals in the past 24 hours, it said on Wednesday. It has been announced that at least 11,000 injured people need to be evacuated urgently from Gaza.
The ministry does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its statistics, but says most of the dead were women and children.
Israel has ordered Palestinians to evacuate the area, which covers two-thirds of its narrow coastal territory. Most of the displaced are packed into the southern town of Rafah, near the Egyptian border, with many living in crammed tent camps and overcrowded UN-run shelters.
Hamas continues to put up fierce resistance across its territory, and police forces have returned to the streets in areas where Israeli forces have withdrawn. Hamas still holds more than 130 hostages, of whom around 30 are believed to have died, the majority killed on October 7.
Hamas clarifies demands for hostage trade
Hamas’s reaction to the ceasefire proposal was published in Lebanon’s al-Akbar newspaper, which is close to the powerful militant group Hezbollah.
Hamas officials and two Egyptian officials confirmed its authenticity. A fourth official with knowledge of the talks later clarified the order of announcements. All spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief the media on the negotiations.
During the first 45 days, Hamas planned to release all remaining women and children, as well as elderly and sick men, in exchange for an unspecified number of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. Israel would also withdraw from populated areas, halt air operations, allow far more aid into the country and allow Palestinians to return to their homelands, including in devastated northern Gaza.
The second phase, to be negotiated during the first phase, would include the release of all remaining hostages, mostly soldiers, in exchange for the detention of all Palestinians over the age of 50, including senior militants. Israel will release another 1,500 prisoners, 500 of whom were designated by Hamas, to complete its withdrawal from Gaza.
In the third phase, the two sides will exchange the remains of hostages and prisoners of war.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he would not seek an agreement at any cost and indicated he would not agree to the release of senior militants.
Israelis grieve over fate of prisoners of war
Israelis fear time is running out and are deeply concerned about the plight of the hostages, as their families and citizens seek an agreement with Hamas. Israeli forces have rescued only one hostage, but Hamas says Israeli airstrikes killed several people and the rescue operation failed.
During a week-long ceasefire in November, more than 100 hostages, mostly women and children, were released in exchange for the release of 240 Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.
Thousands of Israelis have taken part in weekly protests demanding the release of the hostages and new elections. But Prime Minister Netanyahu is beholden to a far-right coalition that threatens to overthrow his government if he makes too many concessions in negotiations.
That would put an end to Netanyahu’s long political career and potentially lead to him being indicted on long-standing corruption charges.
