Netanyahu: Ceasefire Agreement Must Allow Resumption of Hostilities Until Military Objectives Are Achieved

Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, stated on Sunday that any ceasefire agreement in Gaza must allow for the resumption of hostilities until his country's declared military objectives are achieved. According to him, the terms of agreement welcomed by U.S. President Joe Biden enable the Israeli army to return hostages taken by Hamas without abandoning other military goals. Netanyahu emphasized that the plan must prevent arms smuggling from the Egypt-Gaza border by Hamas and also stop the return of thousands of armed militants to northern Gaza. Netanyahu's remarks come just hours after Reuters reported, citing two Hamas officials, that the Islamist group supported by the Islamic Republic is awaiting Israel's response regarding a ceasefire proposal in Gaza. This statement from the two Hamas officials comes five days after the group claimed to have accepted a key part of the U.S. proposed plan to end the war in Gaza. The three-phase plan proposed by Joe Biden aims to establish a ceasefire in Gaza and secure the release of around 120 Israeli hostages with mediation from Qatar and Egypt. Reuters cited another Palestinian official familiar with the ceasefire negotiations, stating that Israel is negotiating with the Qataris. According to him, the Israelis have discussed Hamas's response with the Qataris and promised to provide their answer in the coming days. Meanwhile, the Israeli Prime Minister previously stated without providing a specific timeline that negotiations would continue this week. On Saturday, Hamas claimed it had dropped one of its key demands for Israel's commitment to a permanent ceasefire before signing a peace agreement. A Hamas official told Reuters that instead of this demand, the group agreed to allow negotiations to lead to a ceasefire after the initial six-week phase. A Palestinian official familiar with peace efforts claimed that the proposal put forward by Hamas, if accepted by Israel, could create a framework for ending the hostilities. Reuters also reported that William Burns, the head of the CIA, is soon heading to Qatar. Various cities in Israel were scenes of protests on Sunday, with citizens demanding a signed agreement to return hostages taken by Hamas. Among the actions taken by protesters were blocking intersections, striking in front of politicians' homes, and burning tires on the Tel Aviv-Jerusalem highway. At the same time, official reports indicate the continuation of clashes between Israel and Hezbollah at the northern borders. The Israeli Foreign Ministry confirmed that Maytham Mustafa al-Attar, a prominent member of Hezbollah's air defense unit, was killed on Saturday due to an Israeli drone strike. The ministry added, 'Al-Attar acquired his knowledge during trips to Iran and played a role in transferring military equipment from the Islamic Republic to Hezbollah.' Hezbollah's rocket attacks on northern Israel caused residents of some cities in the area to seek shelter. Shortly after Hamas's terrorist attack on October 7, Hezbollah, as the main proxy arm of the Islamic Republic, began sporadic missile and drone attacks on northern Israel, resulting in nearly 60,000 Israeli citizens being evacuated from areas adjacent to Lebanon. In response, Israel has carried out deadly attacks on Hezbollah positions in Lebanon and Syria, killing many members of the group, including senior commanders. So far, U.S. diplomatic efforts to push Hezbollah back to the other side of the Litani River, 30 kilometers from the Israel-Lebanon border, based on UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which ended the 34-day war between Israel and Hezbollah in the summer of 2006, have been unsuccessful. In Gaza, clashes between Israel and Hamas continue, with health officials from the group claiming that at least 15 people were killed on Sunday due to an Israeli attack on the densely populated strip. The Israeli army also announced that at least 30 armed Palestinian militants were killed in Rafah on Saturday. During Hamas's 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. Nine months after this terrorist attack, a total of 109 hostages have been freed from Hamas captivity, and according to Israeli estimates, 116 other hostages remain in Gaza, of whom 42 have died. 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 2014 conflict are also in Hamas's possession. The Hamas group is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Israel, Canada, Japan, and several other countries. The new British Prime Minister, in a call with Netanyahu, called for deepening relations with Israel. Israeli media reported that an American citizen was severely injured in a Hezbollah attack. Israeli protesters blocked roads demanding an agreement for the release of hostages in Gaza. Hamas is 'awaiting Israel's response' to the ceasefire proposal; a senior Hezbollah commander was killed. According to Reuters, Hamas says it has accepted the U.S. proposal to resume negotiations for the release of hostages. Hopes are rising for the release of hostages and establishing a ceasefire in Gaza. Opposition to ceasefire negotiations; Israel's internal security minister: I will leave the coalition government. The second day of extensive missile and drone attacks by Hezbollah on Israel; Israeli jets flying over Lebanon. The Israeli president acknowledged differences between Netanyahu and Biden regarding U.S. arms supplies. Glimmers of hope for a ceasefire in Gaza; Hamas made a new proposal, which Israel welcomed.