Israel & Palestine

Netanyahu: Anyone would say 'no' to Hamas’s terms for Gaza hostage deal

Author: TOVAH LAZAROFF, REUTERS Source: The Jerusalem Post

February 7, 2024 at 15:29

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks on February 7, 2024 (photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM/POOL)

Hamas’s insistence on a prolonged pause to the war, a permanent ceasefire, and a complete IDF withdrawal from the enclave doused optimism that the release of the captives was around the corner.

Israel won’t accept Hamas’s latest terms for a hostage deal, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told reporters on Wednesday but he did not rule out continued negotiations for an acceptable agreement to secure the release of the remaining 136 hostages held in the enclave

“From what I saw, even you would say no” to Hamas’s offer, Netanyahu told the reporter who quizzed him on the proposal. It included a demand for a permanent ceasefire, an IDF withdrawal from Gaza. and the release of terrorists jailed for killing Israelis.

“Surrendering to the delusional demands of Hamas ..will not lead to the release of the hostages. It will only invite another massacre,” Netanyahu said, referencing the October 7 attack against southern Israel in which over 1,200 people were killed and another 253 were seized as hostages.

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