Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared on Sunday that his nation will not accept Hamas's requests to end the Gaza war, according to reports, amid continuing negotiations for a "pause" and growing calls for the release of hostages.
“We are not ready to accept a situation in which the Hamas battalions come out of their bunkers, take control of Gaza again, rebuild their military infrastructure, and return to threatening the citizens of Israel in the surrounding communities, in the cities of the south, in all parts of the country,” he said, the BBC reported.
“Israel will not agree to Hamas’ demands,” he reiterated.
The latest comments come as negotiations in Egypt resumed, with Israel called upon to halt its offensive in Gaza in exchange for the freeing of hostages held by Hamas.
All about that cease-fire: Hamas wants a permanent cessation of hostilities; Israel wants a temporary pause. Netanyahu claimed accepting Hamas's terms would leave Gaza under the group's control, a threat Israel could not live with.
At the same time, a Hamas official close to senior leader Ismail Haniyeh said the group was carefully considering the latest proposal but reiterated their demand for an end to the conflict and a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.
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