NETANYAHU SAYS ISRAEL CANNOT ACCEPT HAMAS DEMAND TO END GAZA WAR; DEFENSE CHIEF: RAFAH OFFENSIVE IMMINENT

Netanyahu Says Israel Cannot Accept Hamas Demand to End Gaza War; Defense Chief: Rafah Offensive Imminent

Amid reported progress in Gaza talks, Defense Minister Gallant said inside Gaza that Israel recognizes 'alarming signs that Hamas doesn't intend to follow any agreement'; Hamas chief Haniyeh reiterated that the organization's starting point was the cessation of war

May 05th, 18PM May 05th, 18PM

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that Israel "cannot accept" Hamas' demands to withdraw Israeli forces in Gaza, amid reports that the organization expressed willingness to accept a recent proposal presented by Egypt for a hostage and cease-fire agreement.

"Hamas remains fixed on its extreme positions, primarily the demand to withdraw all our forces from Gaza, end the war, and leave Hamas intact," Netanyahu said in a video posted on X. "That is not what we paid unbearably heavy prices for," he added.

Netanyahu added that Israel "will continue fighting until all its goals are achieved." According to the prime minister, the negotiation team was given broad maneuvering room to promote the release of the hostages and while Israel has shown a "willingness to go a significant distance," Hamas is hindering a deal.

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, during a visit to central Gaza, said, "We gave it a period of time, and we wanted to reach a situation in which we would achieve the release of the hostages as quickly as possible, with some delay in operational activity – because the hostages are in a difficult situation, and we need to make every effort to free them."

"We recognize alarming signs that Hamas actually does not intend to follow any agreement with us. This means action in Rafah and the entire Gaza Strip in the near future," Gallant added.

The head of Hamas' political branch, Ismail Haniyeh said Hamas' delegation came to the negotiation talks with positivity and showed flexibility, "but its starting point was the cessation of war, and this is a principled and logical position that should ensure stability."

Haniyeh claimed, "the world has become hostage to an extremist government (in Israel) that has a large number of political problems and crimes committed in Gaza, and a Prime Minister who wants to make arguments for continued aggression, widening the circle of violence, and sabotage the mediators' efforts."

The Hamas leader called on the U.S. to stop supplying weapons to Israel, and said that his organization aspires to a general agreement which will bring an end to the fighting, a withdrawal of the IDF from Gaza and a hostage deal.

Sources present at the government meeting on Sunday said a confrontation erupted between National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Netanyahu and Gallant, revolving around the progress of the fighting in Gaza.

Ben-Gvir accused Gallant of not allowing the army to continue the fighting: "They are being attacked and you and the chief of staff are telling them to stay silent."

According to the sources, Gallant left the meeting in protest, after which Ben-Gvir said to Netanyahu: "This minister does what he wants – it's one thing that you don't fire him but reprimand him, he is insolent."

"Don't lecture me … I don't need threats to enter Rafah, I promised we will enter Rafah, and we will do it very soon."

Dozens protested in front of the Prime Minister's office in Jerusalem, calling on Israel to continue the war in Gaza.

"We want to insist that the ministers and the prime minister not surrender to Hamas," said the protesters, who were organized by the Gvura Forum, affiliated with the right-wing, who said they also insist "that the fighting continue and that all the war's goals set by the government at the beginning of the war be fulfilled in full. We call on the ministers – look us in the eyes – for what were the boys killed? Don't surrender to Sinwar," said the bereaved families.

The protesters blocked the entry of ministers to the Prime Minister's Office. Several ministers came out to speak with them, including Transportation Minister Miri Regev, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.

2024-05-05T15:36:32Z dg43tfdfdgfd