Netanyahu Announces Support for Biden's Plan for Hostage Release: Hamas is the Only Obstacle

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized on Sunday at the beginning of his weekly cabinet meeting that Israel supports the proposal by U.S. President Joe Biden for the release of hostages. According to the Israeli Prime Minister, "Hamas is the only obstacle to the release of our hostages." On Saturday night, Netanyahu's office had issued a statement reaffirming Israel's commitment to the conditions outlined in Biden's proposal from June 1. Netanyahu's emphasis on his country's commitment to the U.S. President's proposal follows a report from Axios on Saturday, which stated that three informed sources confirmed that the United States, along with Qatar and Egypt, is focused on amending Article 8 of its plan regarding negotiations between Israel and Hamas during the six-week ceasefire period stipulated in the first phase of the proposal. In the first phase of the U.S. proposal, fighting in Gaza is set to cease for six weeks, during which female, elderly, and sick hostages will be released. During this period, Israel and Hamas will negotiate a second six-week ceasefire and the implementation of the release of live hostages, including young men and male soldiers. In his remarks on Sunday, Netanyahu stated that "a combination of political and military pressure—above all, military pressure" could lead to the return of the remaining 120 hostages held by Hamas. The Israeli Prime Minister further stated, "There is no substitute for victory. Our fighters did not lose their lives in vain. We will not end the war until we achieve all our goals." Concurrently with Netanyahu's remarks, the Shuja'iyya neighborhood in northern Gaza, as well as the center and south of this densely populated strip, witnessed the advance of Israeli tanks and the killing of at least six Palestinians. The Israeli army announced that during operations in Shuja'iyya, several armed Palestinians were killed, weapons used by Palestinian groups were found, and military infrastructure was destroyed. The Israeli army also confirmed the deaths of two of its soldiers in northern Gaza on Saturday. In response, the military wing of Hamas and Islamic Jihad reported fierce clashes in Shuja'iyya and Rafah, claiming to have fired anti-tank rockets and mortars at Israeli forces. In Rafah, Israeli tanks continued their advance in the east, west, and center of the city, and according to doctors, six Palestinians were killed during the clashes. Israel stated that the aim of its operations in Rafah is to destroy the last brigades of Hamas and has repeatedly warned this group, supported by the Islamic Republic, to stop using Palestinian civilians as "human shields." On Sunday, the Israeli army announced the continuation of "targeted and intelligence-based" operations in Rafah, adding that several armed Palestinians had been neutralized and some other tunnels used by Hamas had been destroyed. During the terrorist attack on October 7, more than 1,200 Israeli citizens, including women, children, and the elderly, were massacred, and over 250 others were taken hostage. Following this terrorist attack, Israel launched an offensive on Gaza to destroy Hamas and retrieve hostages taken by Hamas. Nearly nine months after the October 7 terrorist attack, a total of 109 hostages have been released from Hamas captivity, and according to Israeli estimates, 116 other hostages are still in Gaza, of whom 42 have lost their lives. Meanwhile, seven hostages have been rescued by the Israeli army, and the bodies of 19 other hostages have been identified and returned to Israel. Additionally, Hamas still holds two Israeli civilians who entered the Gaza Strip in 2014 and 2015. The bodies of two Israeli soldiers killed in the summer of 2014 are also in Hamas's possession. Hamas is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Israel, Canada, Japan, and several other countries. The United Nations has resumed the transfer of humanitarian aid from the American dock into Gaza after a hiatus. Families of hostages have called for the return of their loved ones; Hamas has rejected any ceasefire. Reuters reported that the U.S. has delivered over ten thousand highly destructive bombs and thousands of Hellfire missiles to Israel. Europe has sanctioned several individuals and entities for financing Hamas; a member of the Quds Force is among those sanctioned. The U.S. and Europe have warned Hezbollah to cease attacks on Israel. Tensions have escalated along the Israel-Lebanon border; Hezbollah fired 40 rockets. Israeli forces are conducting operations in the city of Gaza: civilians are urged to move south. At least 24 Palestinians were killed in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza. Netanyahu stated, "We agree to a 'pause' in the war for the release of hostages, but Hamas must be destroyed."