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Netanyahu Declares Ceasefire Talks with Hamas Dead, Open to Partial Agreement for 120 Hostages

Jun 24, 2024, 03:53 AM

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced that negotiations for a ceasefire deal with Hamas have reached a dead end. Netanyahu stated that Israel will not support a permanent ceasefire or the complete withdrawal of its forces from Gaza. He indicated that Israel is open to a partial agreement to recover some of the 120 hostages held by Hamas, but emphasized that the war will continue until Hamas is completely destroyed. Netanyahu also mentioned plans to shift military focus to the northern border with Lebanon after the intense phase of fighting in Rafah concludes. This stance, shared in an interview with Channel 14, contradicts a proposal backed by U.S. President Joe Biden, which included a full ceasefire and the end of hostilities. Netanyahu's remarks have drawn criticism from various quarters, including the Association of Prisoners' Families and Hamas, which accused him of rejecting the U.S.-backed proposal. Mediators have struggled to persuade Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar to accept the deal.