Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declined a Hamas proposal to end the conflict, release captives, and withdraw Israeli forces. Netanyahu, facing increasing domestic pressure to secure the release of captives, stated that accepting Hamas's conditions would leave the armed group "intact" and deem the sacrifices of Israel's soldiers as having "fallen in vain."
“I reject outright the terms of surrender of the monsters of Hamas,” Netanyahu said.
“If we accept this, we won’t be able to guarantee the safety of our citizens. We will not be able to bring evacuees home safely and the next October 7 will only be a matter of time,” the Israeli leader added.
Netanyahu earlier repeated his opposition to an independent Palestinian state, insisting he would not compromise on “full Israeli security control over the entire area in the west of Jordan”.
Facing mounting challenges, Netanyahu is pressured from various angles: families of captives demand a deal for their return, far-right coalition members advocate for a war escalation, and strained relations with the Biden administration intensify.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum initiated a protest outside Netanyahu's private home in Jerusalem last week, vowing to stay until he agrees to a resolution for the captives' release.
“If the prime minister decides to sacrifice the hostages, he should show leadership and honestly share his position with the Israeli public,” the group said in a statement.