Israeli Prime Minister Rejects Hamas’ Conditions for Hostage Release in Gaza War
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has firmly rejected Hamas’ conditions for ending the Gaza war and securing the release of hostages held there. This comes as Netanyahu faces mounting public pressure to bring the captives home. Hamas has demanded an end to the war, the release of Palestinian prisoners, and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza as conditions for releasing the remaining hostages.
Netanyahu, in a statement on Sunday, stated that he works tirelessly on this issue but outright rejects the terms of surrender proposed by Hamas. He emphasized that agreeing to these terms would undermine Israel’s security and render the sacrifices made by Israeli soldiers in vain. “If we agree to this, we will not be able to guarantee the security of our citizens,” he added.
According to Israel, out of the 253 hostages seized by Hamas on October 7, 132 are believed to still be in Gaza, with 104 presumed to be alive. The rejection of Hamas’ conditions follows a report by the Wall Street Journal stating that the US, Egypt, and Qatar want Israel to engage in talks with Hamas that would begin with the release of hostages and eventually lead to the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.
Netanyahu’s refusal to accept Hamas’ terms comes at a time when divisions within Israel’s war cabinet are deepening. There is a growing debate about whether the priority should be on bringing the hostages home or defeating Hamas. Over the weekend, thousands of people protested in Tel Aviv against Netanyahu’s handling of the war.
War cabinet minister Gadi Eisenkot recently voiced his opinion that defeating Hamas is an unrealistic goal and called for elections within months. He criticized the government for failing to prioritize securing the release of the hostages, which he believes should be their highest priority.
Netanyahu is facing increasing pressure from the Israeli public to secure the release of the captives in Gaza. In a demonstration on Monday, families of the hostages and other protesters stormed a meeting held by the Israeli parliament’s finance committee. They held placards demanding action and shouted, “You will not sit here while they die there.” While there were no reports of arrests inside the parliament, Israeli police stated that dozens of protesters who blocked the entrance violated public order.
Netanyahu later met with representatives of the families of the hostages and assured them that Israel has an initiative to secure their release. However, he stated that there is no real proposal from Hamas that would advance their freedom. A recent poll conducted by CNN’s Israeli affiliate Channel 13 revealed that 35% of Israelis would support a deal involving the release of all hostages in exchange for stopping the war and freeing all Hamas detainees in Israel.
The war between Israel and Hamas has been ongoing for over three months since Hamas launched a brutal attack on October 7, resulting in the deaths of 1,200 people, according to Israeli authorities. The death toll in Gaza has now surpassed 25,000, as reported by the Hamas-controlled health ministry in the enclave. These figures cannot be independently verified by CNN.
Netanyahu’s rejection of a Palestinian state and his insistence on full Israeli security control over the occupied territories have put him at odds with the United States and several European countries. The US has been urging Israel to recognize the need for Palestinians to establish an independent state in areas captured by Israel in the 1967 war. Netanyahu’s stance has also drawn criticism from European foreign ministers who view Israel’s opposition to a two-state solution as unacceptable.
As the Gaza war continues and the fate of the hostages remains uncertain, Netanyahu faces a challenging balancing act between public pressure, international expectations, and ensuring Israel’s security. The situation remains tense, and the search for a resolution continues.