Jerusalem: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his country will continue to pursue all the objectives of the ongoing war in Gaza, even as an intense international effort is underway to bring an end to the conflict.
Marking the second anniversary of the October 7, 2023, Hamas terror attack in Israel, Netanyahu said, “We are in fateful days of decision. We will continue to act to achieve all the war’s objectives: The return of all hostages, the elimination of Hamas’s rule, and ensuring that Gaza will no longer pose a threat to Israel.”
As the conflict entered its third year, Netanyahu said it was a “war for our very existence and future". On the issue of the 48 hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza, Netanyahu said efforts to bring them back will continue. “We embrace with love the grieving families, wish a full recovery to those wounded in body and soul, and of course, continue to act in every way to bring back all the hostages – the living and the fallen alike,” he said.
Netanyahu’s comments came as the negotiations to end the war in Gaza, according to US President Donald Trump’s 20-point plan, are underway in Egypt’s capital, Cairo. Earlier, in a televised statement, he said, “Hamas will be disarmed and Gaza will be demilitarized – either the easy way or the hard way, but it will be achieved.”
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Hamas wants 'real guarantees' to end the war Hamas said on October 7 that it was ready to reach a deal to end the Gaza war based on President Donald Trump’s peace plan. Hamas’ top negotiator Khalil al-Hayya said the group wants “real guarantees” to end the war, citing past experience with Israel during two previous ceasefires. The group also said that it had exchanged a list of the names of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners to be released under a swap deal, Reuters reported. Negotiations are focused on “the mechanisms to halt the conflict, withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and the swap deal,” the Palestinian militant group said. |
