© Reuters. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks through the weekly cupboard assembly on the Defence Ministry in Tel Aviv, Israel, January 7, 2024. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun/Pool/File Photograph
By Emily Rose
JERUSALEM (Reuters) -Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday rejected circumstances offered by Hamas to finish the conflict and launch hostages that would come with Israel’s full withdrawal and leaving Hamas in energy in Gaza.
As Israeli planes resumed bombing Khan Younis within the southern Gaza Strip, senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri informed Reuters the Israeli chief’s refusal to finish the navy offensive in Gaza “means there isn’t any likelihood for the return of the (Israeli) captives.”
“In change for the discharge of our hostages, Hamas calls for the tip of the conflict, the withdrawal of our forces from Gaza, the discharge of all of the murderers and rapists,” Netanyahu mentioned in an announcement. “And leaving Hamas intact.”
“I reject outright the phrases of give up of the monsters of Hamas,” Netanyahu mentioned.
Below a deal brokered in late November by the USA, Qatar and Egypt, greater than 100 of the estimated 240 hostages taken captive to Gaza throughout an assault by Hamas militants on Oct. 7 have been freed in change for the discharge of 240 Palestinians held in Israeli prisons.
Since then, Netanyahu has confronted mounting stress to safe the discharge the 136 hostages who stay in captivity.
The Hostages and Lacking Individuals Households Discussion board demanded in an announcement that Netanyahu “clearly state that we’ll not abandon civilians, troopers, and others kidnapped within the October debacle.”
“We should advance the deal now,” it mentioned. “If the prime minister decides to sacrifice the hostages, he ought to present management and truthfully share his place with the Israeli public.”
Kin of the hostages at a protest outdoors Netanyahu’s residence demanded motion.
“We want the federal government to now repair the issue that they’ve created and get these hostages dwelling instantly, mentioned Jon Polin, father of Hersh Goldberg-Polin.
Netanyahu additionally took a stronger line on the problem of Palestinian statehood than earlier than.
“I cannot compromise on full Israeli safety management of all territory west of the Jordan River,” he mentioned.
U.S. President Joe Biden mentioned on Friday he spoke with Netanyahu about doable options for creation of an unbiased Palestinian state, suggesting one path might contain a non-militarized authorities.
Netanyahu appeared on Saturday to push again towards Biden’s remarks about Palestinian statehood after the conflict towards Hamas in Gaza ends as the 2 males don’t see eye-to-eye on Palestinians having a state, an answer Biden has advocated to attain long-term peace.
Within the assertion on Sunday, Netanyahu repeated that he would insist upon “full Israeli safety management over all of the territory west of Jordan.”
Netanyahu mentioned he had firmly stood as much as “worldwide and inside pressures” to alter this place and would proceed to take action.
“My insistence is what prevented for years the institution of a Palestinian state that will have posed an existential hazard to Israel,” he mentioned.