JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday that there would be no permanent ceasefire in Gaza until Hamas’ military and government capabilities were destroyed.
His comments in a statement published online came after US President Joe Biden said Israel had proposed a three-phase agreement for a ceasefire in Gaza in exchange for the release of hostages by Hamas.
“Israel’s conditions for ending the war have not changed: the destruction of Hamas’ military and government capabilities, the release of all hostages, and the assurance that Gaza no longer poses a threat to Israel,” Netanyahu said.
“Israel will continue to insist that these conditions be met before a permanent ceasefire is established. The notion that Israel will agree to a permanent ceasefire before these conditions are met is a failure,” he added.
(Reporting by Dan Williams; writing by Angus McDowall; editing by Frances Kerry)
