Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu firmly rejected demands by Hamas for an end to the Gaza war in exchange for freeing hostages, stating on Sunday that acquiescing would keep Hamas in power and pose a grave threat to Israel's security.
Netanyahu said Israel was willing to pause fighting temporarily to secure the release of over 130 hostages still held by Hamas. However, he stressed, "Israel cannot accept Hamas' key demand to remove all our forces from Gaza, end the war, and leave them in power." The Prime Minister warned, "That would allow Hamas to achieve its promise of carrying out massacres, rapes, and kidnappings again and again."
Meanwhile, in Cairo, Hamas leaders held a second day of truce talks with Egyptian and Qatari mediators. Palestinian officials reported no apparent progress as Hamas maintained its stance that any deal must completely end the war in Gaza.
Netanyahu remained steadfast that Israel would not retreat from Gaza, allowing Hamas to solidify its rule and repeatedly endanger Israeli citizens.
