Netanyahu reiterates he will not bow to Hamas’ demand for a ceasefire in Gaza

Prime Minister of Israel, benjamin netanyahusaid in a statement this Sunday, showing its “firm” opposition to the demands of the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas for the next round of talks, including an end to the war in the Gaza Strip.

Hamas leader Yahya SinwarThe Prime Minister’s Office said it “continues to demand an end to the war, the withdrawal of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) from the Gaza Strip, and the retention of Hamas.” “Netanyahu strongly opposes this.”

The negotiating team’s reports, he says, “only harden Hamas’s position.”

This Sunday too, Izzat Al RishekA member of Hamas’ political bureau said the organization had yet to receive any proposals from the mediators, despite “rumors circulating about negotiations”.

Al Rishek emphasized the demands of the organization, which are “Complete and permanent cessation of aggression, not only in Rafah, but in the entire Gaza Strip” as “the basis and starting point for anything”.

Israel confirmed it on Saturday after agreeing with the United States and Qatar Ceasefire talks to resume next week Talks with Hamas, aimed at trying to close a deal to exchange hostages for Palestinian prisoners, have been stalled since May 10 and no major progress has been made for months, while the Gaza Strip remains under Israeli attack.

The Israeli government insists on the priority of reaching an agreement for the return of those kidnapped in the Hamas attack against Israel on October 7, 2023 (which also killed about 1,200 people), while the Islamist organization maintains pressure to end its offensive in the Strip.

They are among the 253 people abducted on October 7 in the enclave 121 prisoners, About 40 of them were killed, according to Israel – more than 70, according to Hamas; while four other hostages have been held for years, two of whom have died.

Since the war began, Israel and Hamas reached only a one-week ceasefire agreement in late November that allowed the release of 105 hostages in exchange for 240 Palestinian prisoners.

Additionally, four hostages were released by Hamas in October; three were rescued by the army – two of them in a successful operation in Rafah in February; while the bodies of 20 hostages have been recovered, three of whom were mistakenly killed by Israeli soldiers in December.

For his part, the ‘number two’ in the Israeli government’s security cabinet, Benjamin Gantz It has been argued that the launch of several rockets from Rafah towards Israeli territory this Monday confirms the need for a military operation in that area.

“The rockets launched today from Rafah demonstrate that the Israel Defense Forces must operate even where Hamas still operates from and the IDF will continue to operate wherever necessary,” Gantz said during a visit to the Urim military base, located in the border area with the Gaza Strip.

Gantz also reacts similarly to the order issued on Friday by International Court of Justice (ICJ), which ordered an “immediate” halt to the Israeli military offensive against Rafah because of the risks posed Hundreds of thousands of displaced civilians,

“The world must know that those who still hold our hostages are firing on our cities and continuing to spread terror. They are responsible for this situation,” he argued.

,Hamas terrorists are war criminals and we want them to pay the price for their crimes sooner rather than later“, have added.

Hamas militia, Ezzeldin al Qassam Brigadeshas claimed responsibility for launching ten projectiles against central Israel. The Iron Dome anti-aircraft system has shot down several projectiles and alerts have been activated in cities such as Herzliya, Kfar Shmarahu, Ramat Hasharon, Tel Aviv, Petah Tikva and several institutions with small populations. This is the first time in four months that rockets have been fired on the region and there are currently no reports of serious injuries.

(With information from EFE and EP)