Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized on Sunday that his nation stands united in the fight against Hamas and asserted that he will not yield to what he termed as “unreasonable demands” put forward by the country’s adversaries in the ongoing hostage negotiations.
“We are committed to securing the release of the remaining hostages,” Netanyahu stated during an interview with Margaret Brennan on CBS’ “Face the Nation.” “We’ve successfully repatriated half of them already, and I commend the collaborative efforts of Israel and the United States in ensuring the return of the remaining captives.”
However, he expressed uncertainty regarding the likelihood of reaching a deal, stating, “If Hamas revises its unrealistic demands and adopts a more pragmatic approach, we may see progress towards the resolution we all desire.”
President Joe Biden has suggested that the hostage negotiations in progress could potentially bring about six weeks of stability in Israel and Gaza. Brennan reported that the proposed agreement would involve the release of 30 to 40 hostages in exchange for several hundred Palestinian prisoners. Nonetheless, Netanyahu indicated that discussing the details of the deal publicly would be counterproductive.
“Hamas initially tabled unreasonable demands,” Netanyahu remarked. “It remains to be seen if they have reconsidered their stance. If they demonstrate a willingness to engage constructively, we may reach an agreement. However, their current position is far from realistic. We remain hopeful for a positive outcome.”
Despite widespread protests across Israel over the weekend, Netanyahu asserted that the populace is more unified than ever before.
“Last week, the Knesset voted 99 to 9 in support of my proposal,” he stated. “This demonstrates overwhelming consensus on the need to achieve both victory in the conflict and prevent external imposition of a Palestinian state, which would jeopardize Israel’s security. This level of unity is unprecedented.”
Netanyahu reiterated that achieving total victory is imperative and non-negotiable for lasting peace.
“We cannot compromise on the objective of total victory,” he emphasized. “Without securing victory in the conflict, we cannot ensure lasting peace. We are determined to emerge victorious from this war.”
Regarding the criteria for victory, Netanyahu outlined three key objectives: the safe return of hostages, dismantling Hamas, and neutralizing future threats from Gaza.
“Success in these areas is intertwined,” he explained. “We cannot declare victory until all three goals are accomplished.”
Netanyahu expressed confidence that victory is attainable, but stressed the necessity of eliminating Hamas, signaling the commencement of the Rafah operation as a critical step.
“The culmination of our efforts is near,” he asserted. “We have already decimated 18 out of the 24 Hamas battalions, with four remaining concentrated in Rafah. We cannot conclude the conflict without addressing this final stronghold.”
Netanyahu disclosed that he has instructed the military to devise a plan for the evacuation of Palestinian civilians and the neutralization of the remaining Hamas forces.
“Whether or not a deal is reached, our mission remains unchanged,” he affirmed. “We are determined to restore peace and security to our nation, and we will take necessary action to achieve this objective.”
