Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to secure the release of hostages still held in Gaza without bowing to what he called the “dictates”; of Hamas, declaring that Israel’s military campaign has reached a “critical stage.”;
In his first public comments since Hamas rejected Israel’s latest truce proposal—one reportedly aimed at securing the release of hostages and achieving a ceasefire—Netanyahu struck a defiant tone.
“I believe we can bring our hostages home without surrendering to Hamas’s dictates,”; he said on Saturday.
“We are at a critical stage of the campaign, and at this point, we need patience and determination to win.”;
His remarks were met with strong criticism from the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, a prominent group advocating for the return of the captives. The group accused the Israeli government of lacking a clear strategy.
“There is one clear, feasible, and urgent solution that can be achieved now: reach a deal that will bring everyone home — even if it means stopping the fighting,”; the group said in a statement.
Netanyahu, however, argued that halting the war at this stage would encourage further aggression against Israel.
“Ending the war under these surrender conditions would send a message to all of Israel’s enemies: that abducting Israelis can bring Israel to its knees,”; he said.
“It would prove that terrorism pays — and that message would endanger the entire free world.”;
The prime minister also accused Hamas of using negotiations to protect its rule and regroup militarily.
“Hamas is demanding the end of the war and the continuation of its rule, as well as a full Israeli withdrawal, which would enable Hamas to rearm and plan more attacks against us,”; he said.
He concluded with a call for national resolve:
“If we commit to ending the war, we will not be able to resume fighting in Gaza. So I ask you — did our soldiers fight in vain? Did our heroes fall and suffer for nothing?”;
