Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said at a meeting with wounded Israeli army reservists that Israel may agree to a short-term ceasefire to release hostages, but will not end the war under any circumstances until Hamas is defeated. This was reported by the Prime Minister's Office, quoted by the Times of Israel.
"The situation has changed. In the coming days, we will enter Gaza in full force to complete the operation. Completing the operation means subduing Hamas. "This means destroying Hamas," the prime minister told the reservists in a video shared by the prime minister's office.
"Eliminating Hamas and releasing all our hostages - these go hand in hand. This is how we do it," Netanyahu continued.
As Israel sent a delegation to Doha for a last-ditch effort to reach a ceasefire and hostage deal before U.S. President Donald Trump wrapped up his Middle East visit, Netanyahu said: "Maybe Hamas will say, "Wait - we want to release 10 more [hostages]." Okay, bring them. We'll take them. And then we'll go in. But there won't be a situation where we stop the war."
"A temporary ceasefire - okay. But we will get there," the prime minister says.
"We have already created a governing body that will allow [civilians] to leave, but the main problem is this - we need countries that are ready to accept them. That's what we are working on right now," he adds.
"If we give them a way out, I tell you - more than 50% will leave. I think much more. But Hamas will not stay there," he said. The reservists, who are members of the "Wounded Soldiers for Victory" forum, "expressed support for Netanyahu's leadership in pursuing victory and achieving all the goals of the war and called on him to decisively defeat the terrorist organization Hamas," the PMO statement said. "You are an example and an inspiration, and with your spirit we are heading towards complete victory," he told the group.