Netanyahu said, in a message in Hebrew on his official account on the Telegram application: “We will fight until complete victory, which includes a strong movement in Rafah, after allowing the civilian population to leave the combat areas.”
These statements came as negotiations continued to reach a truce between Israel and Hamas on Wednesday in Cairo, amid fears of an Israeli ground operation in the city of Rafah.
According to the United Nations, about 1.4 million people, most of them displaced due to the war, are gathered in this city, which has turned into a huge camp, and it is the only large city in the Gaza Strip that the Israeli army has not yet invaded by ground.
However, the Israeli army carried out an operation on Sunday night, which led, according to what was announced, to the liberation of two Israeli hostages, but left about 100 people dead on the Palestinian side, according to Hamas authorities.
Netanyahu added, on Wednesday evening, in a video clip: “This week we liberated two of our hostages in a precise military operation. So far, we have liberated 112 of our hostages through a combination of strong military pressure and firm negotiations.”
The Israeli Prime Minister continued: “This is the key to liberating our remaining hostages: strong military pressure and very firm negotiations. In this sense, I insist that Hamas abandon its imaginary demands. When it abandons its demands, we will be able to move forward.”
Netanyahu did not provide details about Hamas’ demands, but according to sources within the Palestinian movement, the latter calls for a “complete ceasefire,” while Israel proposes a halt in the fighting accompanied by the release of a number of the 130 hostages, who are still being held in Gaza.
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