No agreement that means an end to the war

Israel will not stop fighting in Gaza until Hamas is destroyed, claims Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The outcome raises renewed questions about Netanyahu’s intentions – and sharp criticism from family members of the hostages.

– I am not ready to end the war and leave Hamas behind. I’m ready for a partial agreement, it’s no secret, to bring some of the hostages home to us, the prime minister said during an interview with Israel’s Channel 14, a conservative television channel sometimes compared to America’s Fox, on Sunday.

Netanyahu’s statements contradict the terms of the ceasefire proposal that is on the negotiating table, Israeli media note. The agreement, which was presented as Israeli, stipulates that an initial ceasefire will at a later stage turn into a permanent ceasefire.

“Not interested”

Netanyahu continues to put sticks in the wheels for an agreement, writes Israeli Haaretz.

– Today, Netanyahu has made it clear that he is not interested in the release of all the hostages, sources involved in the ceasefire negotiations told the newspaper.

– In such a situation (Hamas leader Yahya) Sinwar has no reason to move forward with the agreement.

Families of Israeli hostages held in Gaza also sharply criticize the Prime Minister’s actions.

“No future here”

Niva Wenkert, whose 22-year-old son Omer was kidnapped at the Nova music festival on October 7 last year, says according to Haaretz that Netanyahu appears to have given up on the hostages.

– One day Netanyahu says that there is an agreement on the table and that the hostages will be freed. The next day he says something else. How can I avoid going crazy?

– I am a law-abiding citizen and a Zionist. But if my country does not save my son, we have no future here, she says in Israel’s parliament.

Sunday’s interview was Netanyahu’s first with a Hebrew media company since the extremist Hamas movement’s widespread attack on Israel on October 7. The attack was the starting point for the ongoing war in Gaza.