In an interview on Thursday, September 5, 2024, Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed reports of a ceasefire being reached with Hamas.
“There’s not a deal in the making. Unfortunately, it’s not close,” Netanyahu said.
According to Netanyahu, reports of a possible ceasefire deal being reached was a “false narrative.”
He stated that Israel had agreed to several deals, but Hamas had “consistently said no to every one of them”.
“They don’t agree to anything. Not to the Philadelphi Corridor, not to the keys of exchanging hostages for jailed terrorists, not to anything.”
Benjamin Netanyahu
Hamas issued a statement on the status of Gaza ceasefire talks, accusing Netanyahu of intentionally dragging them out so Israel can “prolong the aggression against our people”.
The Palestinian group said that Netanyahu’s demand for open-ended Israeli control of the Philadelphi Corridor is one “trick” to this end.
So rather than hash out new proposals, Hamas said, Israel’s government should be pushed to “adhere to what has [already] been agreed upon”.
However in the interview, Netanyahu rejected allegations that he has obstructed a deal.
“The obstacle to the end of this war is Hamas. The obstacle to the release of hostages is Hamas.
“The ones who butchered in a sling, murdering six people in cold blood, riddling them with bullets and then firing bullets into their heads is Hamas. It’s not Israel. It’s not me.”
Benjamin Netanyahu
He added that Hamas want Israel out of Gaza so that they can take the enclave “as they vowed to do.”
The Israeli leader also reiterated that the only way to ensure Israel’s security was through controlling the Philadelphi Corridor and claimed that most of the Israeli public supports the plan to remain at the Gaza-Egypt border for the future.
Meanwhile, a video footage shows Israeli forces paving a road along southern Gaza’s Philadelphi corridor, which Prime Minister Netanyahu has pushed to be kept under Israel’s control.
The footage, shared by Israeli news site Serugim, shows numerous Israeli bulldozers and heavy construction equipment driving through the road under construction by night.
The news site reported that the road is to serve as a quick access route for Israeli forces to key strategic areas, such as the Egyptian border.
Hamas official Says Group Still Committed To Biden’s Ceasefire Proposal
Hamas official, Khalil Al-Hayya asserted that the group “affirms” its commitment to Biden’s ceasefire proposal and again accused Netanyahu continues to “evade the obligation to reach a deal.”
Al Hayya said that the world has come to believe that the party obstructing the deal is “committing massacres and setting conditions.”
“The policy of military escalation and committing more massacres to release prisoners by force has proven to be a failure. The US administration must abandon its blind bias towards Israel if it wants to reach a deal and commit it to the agreements.”
Khalil Al-Hayya
He added that Hamas will not agree to a deal that does not stop the aggressions or gives “legitimacy to an Israeli presence in Gaza”.
“We support the valiant resistance, appreciate its heroism and will, and pledge to stand firm at the negotiating table,” Al Hayya said.
Meanwhile, the enclave’s Health Ministry said that at least 40,878 people have been killed and 94,454 wounded in Israeli military attacks on Gaza since October 7,
“Of those, 17 Palestinians were killed and 56 wounded in the latest 24-hour reporting period,” the ministry added.
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