Photo : Collected
Israel is not blocking a possible ceasefire deal with Palestinian movement Hamas in the Gaza Strip, but it will not agree to any ceasefire without the release of hostages, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday (7 April).
"I have made it clear to the international community that there will be no ceasefire without the return of those kidnapped. This is simply not going to happen. This is the policy of the Israeli government, and I welcome the fact that the administration of Biden has made it clear the other day that it keeps adhering to the same position," Netanyahu said at the beginning of a cabinet meeting.
The Israeli prime minister also said that the possible deal was being blocked by Hamas, not Israel.
"The extreme demands of Hamas are aimed at ending the war and leaving it intact, ensuring its survival, rehabilitation and ability to endanger our citizens and our soldiers. Obeying Hamas's demands will allow it to try to repeat crimes such as the October 7 attack again and again," he added.
The Israeli army has eliminated 19 of 24 battalions of Hamas, including its senior commanders, cleared the Shifa hospital in six months of fighting in the Gaza Strip, and keeps destroying the movement's underground infrastructure, Netanyahu also said.
"We are one step away from victory," he added.
Messenger/Mumu
