Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected this Sunday (21) the conditions presented by Hamas to end the war and release the hostages. Among the demands would be Israel's complete withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and leaving Hamas in power.
As Israeli planes resumed bombing Khan Younis in southern Gaza, senior Hamas member Sami Abu Zuhri told Reuters that the Israeli leader's refusal to end the military offensive “means there is no chance of the captives returning.” [israelenses]”.
“In exchange for the release of our hostages, Hamas demands an end to the war, the withdrawal of our forces from Gaza, the release of all murderers and rapists. And leaving Hamas intact,” Netanyahu said in a statement.
“I openly reject the surrender terms of the Hamas monsters,” he highlighted.
An agreement negotiated in late November last year between the United States, Qatar and Egypt resulted in the release of more than 100 hostages who were taken to Gaza during the Hamas attack on October 7, in exchange for the release of 240 Palestinians detained in Israeli prisons.
Pressure to release hostages
Since the deal ended, Netanyahu has faced increasing pressure to secure the release of the 136 hostages who remain in captivity.
The prime minister also adopted a stronger stance than previously on the issue of Palestinian statehood. “I will not compromise full Israeli security control of all territory west of the Jordan River,” he said.
United States President Joe Biden said on Friday (19) that he spoke with Netanyahu about possible solutions for the creation of an independent Palestinian state, suggesting that one path could involve a non-militarized government.
Netanyahu reacted to Biden's comments, repeating that he would insist on “full Israeli security control over all territory west of Jordan.”
He highlighted that he faced “international and internal pressure” to change his position.
“My insistence was what prevented for years the establishment of a Palestinian state that would represent an existential danger to Israel,” he argued.
Source: CNN Brasil
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