Israeli PM Netanyahu says Gaza war is back on after Hamas refused to free hostages: ‘Negotiations will be conducted only under fire’
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that the war in Gaza is back on Tuesday night because he believes it’s the only way to force Hamas to free the remaining hostages.
“From now on, negotiations will be conducted only under fire,” the premier said in his evening address to the Jewish state. “We have gone back to fighting with great force.”
His speech followed Israeli airstrikes on Gaza early Tuesday, which killed more than 400 people, according to Hamas-tied Palestinian officials,
Netanyahu blamed the terror group for the breakdown in the cease-fire talks, accusing it of rejecting a US-backed deal to extend the first phase of the truce in exchange for some of the living hostages.
Netanyahu warned that Israel would increase the intensity of its attacks against Hamas, with the time for peaceful negotiations long past.
The prime minister defended his decision to return to war as the best means to win the return of the 59 hostages who remain in Gaza, despite facing backlash from the families of the captives.
Officials believe that 24 hostages are still alive, including New Jersey native Edan Alexander.
Hamas has repeatedly said it would only back proposals that would move the talks forward to the second phase of the deal, which would see all living hostages freed and Israeli troops removed from Gaza.
Netanyahu slammed such demands, and said his main goal was to “destroy Hamas” and ensure Gaza would “no longer pose a threat to Israel.”
“We are winning this war, but the campaign is long from over,” he added.
Netanyahu has maintained throughout the war that military pressure serves as Israel’s best means to rescue the hostages.
Hamas slammed the Israeli attack, accusing the Jewish state’s government of an “unprovoked escalation,” as strikes rained down in Gaza in multiple locations.
“The international community faces a moral test: Either it allows the return of the crimes committed by the occupation army or it enforces a commitment to ending the aggression and war against innocent people in Gaza,” terror organization official Taher Nunu said.
Various United Nations officials have expressed shock over the strikes, including Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who called for humanitarian aid to resume in Gaza and the hostages to be released unconditionally.
With Post wires
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