Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu has firmly rejected a proposal by Hamas to end the ongoing conflict.

 

Hamas suggested a ceasefire, the release of captives, and withdrawal of Israeli forces in exchange for accepting the armed group’s governance of Gaza.

 

“I reject outright the terms of surrender of the monsters of Hamas,” Netanyahu said.

 

“If we accept this, we won’t be able to guarantee the safety of our citizens. We will not be able to bring evacuees home safely and the next October 7 will only be a matter of time,”  the Israeli leader added.

 

Netanyahu, facing domestic pressure to bring captives home, dismissed the offer, emphasizing that complying with Hamas’s conditions would leave the armed group intact and jeopardize Israeli citizens’ safety.

 

The Israeli leader declared the rejection of the “terms of surrender” proposed by Hamas.

 

Netanyahu finds himself under mounting pressure from various fronts, including families urging a deal for the return of captives, calls from his far-right ruling coalition for an escalation of the conflict, and strained relations with the U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration.

 

Protests erupted outside Netanyahu’s home in Jerusalem, where the Hostages and Missing Families Forum demanded action on the captives’ release.

 

As dissent within the war cabinet surfaces, Netanyahu faces the complexity of balancing internal pressures while maintaining a strong stance against Hamas.