Israeli PM Netanyahu Insists On Hamas ‘Destruction’ For Gaza Ceasefire

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reiterated that Israel will not agree to Gaza ceasefire until Hamas is entirely destroyed. This stance casts doubt on U.S. President Joe Biden’s recent announcement of a new Israeli-led ceasefire proposal.

Conditions for Ceasefire

In a rare statement on Saturday during the Jewish Shabbat, Netanyahu emphasized, “Israel’s conditions for ending the war have not changed: the destruction of Hamas’s military and governing capabilities, the freeing of all hostages, and ensuring that Gaza no longer poses a threat to Israel. The notion that Israel will agree to a permanent ceasefire before these conditions are fulfilled is a non-starter.”

Address to Congress

Netanyahu also accepted an invitation to address a joint session of Congress in the coming months. His comments followed Biden’s late-night announcement on Friday, where the U.S. President urged Hamas to accept a new three-phase roadmap towards a permanent ceasefire in the nine-month-old conflict, purportedly tabled by Israel.

Global Reactions

Hamas responded positively to the proposal on Friday, despite having previously stated it would not negotiate while Israeli military operations continued in Gaza. Biden’s announcement has been welcomed by world leaders despite Israel’s apparent hesitation. UN Secretary-General António Guterres called on “all parties to seize this opportunity for a Gaza ceasefire, release all hostages, ensure unhindered humanitarian access, and ultimately achieve durable peace in the Middle East.” UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron and German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock echoed these sentiments, urging Hamas to accept the proposal.

Uncertainty Over Israeli Support

Despite Biden’s description of the plan as an Israeli proposal, there is uncertainty about Netanyahu’s government’s support for the plan. Biden’s pointed call for an end to the conflict seems designed to pressure both Israel and Hamas.

Opposition and Coalition Dynamics

Due to Shabbat, there was little immediate reaction in Israel to Biden’s speech or Netanyahu’s comments. Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid urged Netanyahu to agree to a hostage and ceasefire deal, stating his party would support it even if right-wing factions in the coalition rebelled.

Diplomatic Challenges

Biden’s announcement came two weeks after Netanyahu rejected a new proposal, reportedly criticizing the Israeli delegation’s negotiation skills. US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, after a recent visit to the region, expressed doubts about Netanyahu’s commitment to a long-term peace process.

Pressure from Within

Tensions have also risen following a meeting between Israeli hostage families and the country’s national security adviser, who told them the government would not sacrifice its war aims to secure the hostages’ release. Any concessions to Palestinians are opposed by Netanyahu’s far-right coalition partners, who have threatened to collapse the government over such moves.

Call for Post-War Plan

Netanyahu faces pressure from military and intelligence chiefs and centrist members of his war cabinet to develop a plan for Gaza’s administration and reconstruction post-war. Benny Gantz, a key rival who joined Netanyahu’s emergency unity government, has threatened to resign if Netanyahu does not commit to a post-war plan by June 8.

Ceasefire Roadmap Details

The new ceasefire roadmap, while similar to previous proposals, reportedly includes significant Israeli concessions discussed in Paris between the CIA Director and the Mossad head. The plan’s first phase involves a six-week extendable ceasefire, with Hamas releasing some hostages in exchange for Israeli withdrawal from populated Gaza areas and the freeing of Palestinian prisoners. The second phase would see the release of all remaining hostages and a complete Israeli withdrawal, leading to a lasting truce. The third phase focuses on major reconstruction efforts in Gaza.

Ongoing Conflict and Humanitarian Impact

The conflict, which began with Hamas’s assault on October 7 that killed around 1,200 people and saw 250 taken hostage, has resulted in approximately 36,000 deaths in Gaza, according to the Palestinian health ministry. A previous hostage and prisoner release deal collapsed after a week, and ceasefire negotiations have repeatedly failed since.

Military Operations in Rafah

Israeli forces continued their operations in southern Gaza’s Rafah on Saturday, displacing about 1 million people. Israel’s ground troop deployment to Rafah last month led to the collapse of previous ceasefire talks and significantly disrupted aid deliveries.