The Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has rejected a proposal by Hamas to end the war and release captives in exchange for withdrawing Israeli forces, releasing prisoners, and accepting the armed group’s governance of Gaza. Netanyahu stated that accepting Hamas’s conditions would mean leaving the armed group “intact” and that it would render the sacrifices made by Israel’s soldiers as “fallen in vain.”
Netanyahu also reiterated his opposition to an independent Palestinian state, insisting on “full Israeli security control over the entire area in the west of Jordan.” He is facing pressure from various fronts, including the families of the captives calling for their return, the far-right ruling coalition pushing for an escalation of the war, and differences in relations with the administration of United States President Joe Biden.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum started a protest outside Netanyahu’s private home in Jerusalem, demanding a deal on the captives’ release. The group stated that the captives’ families feel neglected and forgotten and called for the Prime Minister to honestly share his position with the Israeli public.
On the other hand, Hamas released a report admitting “faults” in its execution of the attack on southern Israel, but also described it as “a necessary step and a normal response.”