Expectations about a possible ceasefire in Gaza cool down again after Israeli Prime Minister Beniamin Netanyahu on Wednesday shot down the counterproposal presented by Hamas for a new hostage release agreement.
The premier described the Islamist group’s guidelines as “delirious conditions” and considered that “surrendering” to them would lead to a “new tragedy” that “no one in Israel is willing to accept.”
Instead, he insisted on his goal of “absolute victory,” meaning the “total destruction of Hamas” and its rule in the strip. It is a goal “within reach” in a matter of months, according to Netanyahu, who ratified the intention to advance on Rafah, despite the fact that some 1.3 million Palestinians forcibly displaced by Israeli attacks take refuge there in precarious conditions.
“There is a lot of work to do,” US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken had admitted, shortly after an extensive meeting with Netanyahu in Jerusalem. A “work” that resumes this Thursday in Cairo, according to Egyptian sources.
In its counterproposal to the initiative previously developed by Israel, the United States, Egypt and Qatar, Hamas established three stages, of 45 days each, that would lead to the release of all Israeli hostages and some 1,500 Palestinian prisoners – including 500 sentenced to death. life imprisonment – ??the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza and a permanent ceasefire agreement.
In its response, Hamas did not move from its main demands, but it did soften its initial position of making the release of the hostages subject to the end of the Israeli invasion of the strip. According to Reuters, the Palestinian movement is willing to implement measures under a temporary truce, but a definitive ceasefire must be agreed before the return of all captives is completed.
Netanyahu urged to continue exerting “military pressure” on Gaza until achieving “an absolute victory” that includes the release of the hostages, without accepting Hamas’ demands for a possible truce pact.
“Continuing with military pressure is a necessary condition to free the hostages, succumbing to Hamas will only lead to another massacre,” Netanyahu said in a press conference, where he added that the Israeli Army “must methodically destroy Hamas” until it achieves the Gaza Strip “does not represent any threat to Israel.”
