Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that he would not halt the war in Gaza “now,” as new efforts towards a ceasefire are in progress.At a press conference in Jerusalem, 14 months into the conflict with Hamas militants, he remarked, “If we end the war now, Hamas will return, recover, rebuild and attack us again – and that is the situation we wish to avoid.”
Mr. Netanyahu emphasized that his objective is “the annihilation of Hamas and the destruction of its military and administrative capabilities,” aiming to thwart future attacks, but acknowledged that this goal has not yet been achieved.
On 23 October, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken conveyed that Israel had “succeeded in dismantling Hamas’s military capacity” and had eliminated its senior leadership. He asserted that given these accomplishments, it was time to “bring the hostages home and conclude the war with a clear understanding of the future.”
Israel’s retaliatory offensive in Gaza has resulted in at least 44,758 fatalities.
Qatar, a key mediator, indicated that there was new “momentum” for negotiations following the election of Donald Trump in the United States.
A source associated with the Hamas delegation noted that Turkey, as well as Egypt and Qatar, had been “making commendable efforts to halt the war,” suggesting that a new round of discussions could commence soon.
The Israeli prime minister met with the families of hostages in Gaza and expressed that Israel’s conflicts with Hezbollah and Hamas could aid in negotiation efforts for their release.
Protesters, including relatives of the hostages, have continuously demanded a deal for their release, accusing him of prolonging the war.
The Gaza conflict was ignited by Hamas’s attack on 7 October 2023, which led to the deaths of 1,208 individuals, predominantly civilians, according to an AFP count based on official records.
Read more about the conflict in the Middle East
During the assault, militants also abducted 251 hostages, with 96 still in Gaza, including 34 individuals whom the military claims are deceased.
Israel’s retaliatory actions in Gaza have claimed at least 44,758 lives, mostly civilians, according to data from the Hamas-run health ministry, which is acknowledged as reliable by the UN.
