Benjamin Netanyahu last night rejected Hamas’s “delusional” proposal for a hostage deal, promising that “total victory” would be the only path to peace.
Israel’s prime minister described the terrorists’ demands as “bizarre” and said that agreeing to them would “only provoke another bloodbath” when they are “one finger away from a decisive victory.”
But in a sign that they were still open to negotiations, he added that his officials “haven’t really committed to anything” in terms of the details of a deal.
Hamas had outlined the most detailed plan yet for an agreement that would see the release of every hostage in exchange for 1,500 Palestinian prisoners and an end to the war.
It proposed three phases of 45-day releases, starting with all women, male citizens under 19, the elderly and the sick in exchange for some Palestinian prisoners.
The IDF would then have to withdraw from populated areas and cease air operations before releasing the male soldiers in exchange for other convicts.
Benjamin Netanyahu last night rejected Hamas’s ‘delusional’ hostage deal proposal and promised ‘total victory’ would be the only path to peace
Hamas proposed three phases of 45-day releases, starting with all women, male citizens under the age of 19, the elderly and the sick in exchange for some Palestinian prisoners. In the photo: Israeli army battle tanks in southern Israel today
Palestinians react as Israel attacks a car in Rafah today
The Israeli prime minister described the terrorists’ demands as “bizarre” and said that agreeing to them would “only invite another bloodbath.” In the photo: Palestinians walk among the rubble of destroyed houses in the Al Bureij refugee camp
At a meeting with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak today, Sharon Lifschitz (centre), whose 83-year-old father Oded remains a Hamas prisoner, said Israel ‘has a duty’ to return citizens
In the final phase, the bodies of the dead hostages would be returned to the last batch of terrorists held in Israeli prisons.
But the terror group’s demands also call for a complete IDF withdrawal from Gaza and would effectively allow Hamas to rebuild its army and remain in power.
It also says that a third of Palestinians released in exchange for the hostages would receive life sentences.
Mr. Netanyahu responded unequivocally, stating: “Surrender to the misleading demands of Hamas that we now heard will not only not lead to the liberation of the prisoners, it will only lead to another massacre.”
“We are on the path to an absolute victory,” Netanyahu said, adding that the operation would last months, not years. “There is no other solution,” he said, calling for the “total elimination of Hamas.”
He ruled out any arrangement that would give Hamas full or partial control of Gaza, saying Israel is the “only power” capable of guaranteeing long-term security.
When asked whether his government would accept the release of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for hostages, Netanyahu said: “Well, we haven’t really committed to anything.
He added: “There is supposed to be some kind of negotiation process with the mediators, but from what I have seen, after Hamas’ response, I don’t know what is happening.”
Earlier, US President Joe Biden had described the demands as “a bit exaggerated”, but the Mossad, Israel’s security service, said it was “watching carefully what is being presented to us”.
It came after claims that Qatar has insisted that Hamas drop its demand for the withdrawal of Israeli forces in return for the release of up to 5,000 Palestinian prisoners.
Negotiations are underway between Israel, the US and the Qatari and Egyptian mediators in Cairo. The Daily Mail understands all parties are pushing for an agreement before Ramadan next month, which could be a time for greater religious fervor.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken also met with Israeli leaders today to advance ceasefire talks while pushing for a greater post-war settlement.
It would see Saudi Arabia normalize relations with Israel in exchange for a “clear, credible, time-bound path to the establishment of a Palestinian state.”
Mr Blinken landed in Tel Aviv after Israel after meeting with the leaders of mediators Qatar and Egypt in the most serious diplomatic push of the war yet aimed at reaching an extended ceasefire.
Pressure is mounting on Mr Netanyahu to reach a deal to secure the release of the hostages, with unconfirmed reports that as many as 50 of the 136 remaining in Gaza are now dead.
Palestinians inspect a destroyed car after the Israeli attacks in Rafah
Palestinians jump into a burnt-out car in Rafah amid the conflict
The photo shows a mother and child evacuating their home on October 7, when the conflict broke out
Pressure is mounting on Mr Netanyahu to reach a deal to secure the release of the hostages, with unconfirmed reports that as many as 50 of the 136 remaining in Gaza are now dead.
British relatives of the remaining hostages urged the Israeli government to do “whatever is necessary to bring the hostages home safely and alive.”
In a meeting with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak today, Sharon Lifschitz, whose 83-year-old father Oded is still a Hamas prisoner, said: ‘Israel has a duty to return citizens and Israel must do whatever it takes to get them. ‘
She added: “Israel has released many Palestinian prisoners in the past and will have to do so (again).”
Mr Sunak told the families that the hostages are ‘always in his thoughts’. He revealed that he keeps a ‘Bring Them Home’ dog tag in his pocket at all times to remind him of them.
He was presented with the piece by Orly Gilboa, 48, whose 19-year-old daughter Daniela was taken hostage during a meeting last month.
She hugged the British Prime Minister after telling him about her child’s fate, as highlighted in the Daily Mail.