Israeli soldiers work by their tanks, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, near the northern Gaza border in Israel, January 30, 2024. REUTERS/Amir Cohen/File Photo
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asserted on Wednesday that achieving complete victory in Gaza was feasible, rejecting the latest ceasefire proposal from Hamas aimed at securing the release of hostages still held in the besieged territory.
Netanyahu reiterated his commitment to dismantling the Palestinian Islamist movement, emphasizing that Israel perceived no alternative but to bring about the collapse of Hamas. He stated, “The day after is the day after Hamas. All of Hamas,” underscoring his belief that total victory over Hamas was the sole resolution to the conflict in Gaza.
Hamas had put forward a ceasefire proposal for Gaza lasting four-and-a-half months, during which all hostages would be released, Israeli troops would withdraw from the Gaza Strip, and terms for ending the conflict would be negotiated.
The Hamas offer, initially disclosed by Reuters, was in response to a previous proposal conveyed by Qatari and Egyptian mediators on behalf of U.S. and Israeli intelligence officials. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken engaged with Netanyahu regarding the proposal after his arrival in Israel, following discussions with the leaders of Qatar and Egypt, both of whom have facilitated mediation efforts. Subsequently, Blinken met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah.
Israel initiated its military offensive following an attack by militants from Hamas-controlled Gaza, resulting in the deaths of 1,200 individuals and the abduction of 253 hostages in southern Israel on October 7. Gaza’s health ministry has reported at least 27,585 confirmed Palestinian fatalities, with additional casualties feared to be buried beneath rubble. To date, only one ceasefire has been observed, lasting for just one week at the end of November.
Israel has previously stated its refusal to withdraw troops from Gaza or cease hostilities until Hamas is eradicated. However, sources have indicated that Hamas has adopted a new approach regarding its longstanding demand to end the conflict, now framing it as a subject to be addressed in future negotiations rather than a precondition for a ceasefire.
A source familiar with the negotiations revealed that the Hamas counterproposal did not insist on an immediate guarantee of a permanent ceasefire, but rather suggested that an agreement to end hostilities would need to be reached before the final release of hostages.
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