Netanyahu remains the biggest obstacle
‘Just won’t happen’: Netanyahu says no ceasefire without captives’ release
Israel won’t agree to a ceasefire after six months of the war on Gaza until Israeli captives are released, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says. His comments, made at the start of a weekly cabinet meeting, came as a new round of truce talks in Egypt begin.
“We are one step away from victory. But the price we paid is painful and heartbreaking. There will be no ceasefire without the return of hostages. It just won’t happen,” he said.
Netanyahu said that despite growing international pressure, Israel would not give in to “extreme” demands from Hamas.
As Qatar said before, it's the return of people to Northern Gaza which is what Hamas wants, they have no issue to release the captives otherwise.
Netanyahu: International pressure should be directed at Hamas, not Israel
Israel’s leader continues to comment on the war on Gaza after a cabinet meeting.
“Instead of international pressure being directed at Israel, which only causes Hamas to harden its positions, the pressure of the international community should be directed against Hamas. This will advance the release of the hostages,” he says.
He added, “Israel is ready for a deal, Israel is not ready to surrender.”
Israel has faced a storm of international outrage over the killing of seven aid workers of the US-based food charity World Central Kitchen in a Gaza air strike on April 1. Netanyahu, meanwhile, accused Iran of being behind several attacks against Israel “through its proxies”.
“Anyone who hurts us or plans to hurt us – we will hurt him. We put this principle into practice all the time and in recent days,” Netanyahu added.
