The Israeli Prime Minister pledged to continue the military offensive in Gaza until “absolute victory”.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday rejected Hamas’ ceasefire proposal and pledged to continue the Israeli military offensive in Gaza until the “absolute victory”.
Benjamin Netanyahu spoke shortly after meeting with visiting US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who has been touring the region in the hope of reaching a ceasefire agreement.
“We are on the path to absolute victory”said Benjamin Netanyahu, adding that the operation would last months and not years. “There is no other solution”.
He ruled out any agreement that would leave Hamas in total or partial control of the Gaza Strip. He also declared that Israel was the “only power” able to guarantee long-term security. The prime minister also called for the replacement of the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA.
In response to Israel’s proposal developed with the United States, Qatar and Egypt, Hamas presented a detailed plan in three phases of 45 days, or 135 days in total. The plan called for the gradual release of all Israeli hostages in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza.
“A space to reach an agreement“, according to Antony Blinken
Despite these statements by the Israeli Prime Minister, American Secretary of State Antony Blinken wanted to believe on Wednesday that a ceasefire agreement and release of hostages between Israel and Hamas was still possible. “Although there are unacceptable things in Hamas’ response, we believe it creates space to reach an agreement, and we will work tirelessly until we get there.”did he declare.
Antony Blinken was in the region to try to negotiate an arrangement that could bring some respite from Israel’s war against Hamas, which is entering its fifth month after killing more than 27,000 Palestinians, displacing much of the population of the territory and triggered a humanitarian catastrophe.
Antony Blinken is trying to advance ceasefire negotiations while pushing for a broader post-war settlement in which Saudi Arabia would normalize relations with Israel in exchange for a “clear, credible and time-bound path towards the establishment of a Palestinian state”.
While Antony Blinken said Israel’s response to the October 7 attack was “fully justified” and ruled out any role for Hamas in the post-war Gaza Strip, he also criticized some of Israel’s responses. Antony Blinken said the daily toll of Israeli military operations against innocent civilians “remains too high“.
“Israelis were dehumanized in the most horrific way on October 7. And the hostages have been dehumanized every day since. But that cannot be a license to dehumanize others.”he added.