Netanyahu Rejects Hamas Conditions On Deal To End War And Release Hostages
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected Hamas’ conditions on a deal to end the war and release hostages. Fulfilling the deal would include Israel’s total withdrawal as well as leaving Hamas in power in Gaza.
Israel’s rejection of this deal, as well as its continued bombing of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, is the reason Hamas will not return Israeli captives, a senior official of the group told Reuters.
“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 said in a statement.
“I reject outright the terms of surrender of the monsters of Hamas,” Netanyahu said.
Over a hundred of the estimated 240 hostages originally captured by Hamas were released in late November following a deal brokered by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt. Since then, Netanyahu has reportedly been under increasing pressure to secure the release of the remaining captives.
Protests aimed at pressuring the Israeli government to come to a deal that would see citizens return home have been increasing.
Netanyahu has further reiterated his opposition to an independent Palestinian state, saying that Israel needs full security control over the Palestinian territories.
On Friday, US President Joe Biden said he spoke with Netanyahu about possible solutions for the creation of an independent Palestinian state, suggesting one path could involve a non-militarised government.
However, the leader of Israel stated that “once Hamas is destroyed”, his country must retain security control over Gaza to ensure that Gaza will no longer pose a threat to Israel, a requirement that contradicts the demand for Palestinian sovereignty.
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