Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has confirmed that he rejected previous calls during the conflict to accept Hamas's conditions for withdrawal from the Gaza Strip in exchange for the release of hostages. Netanyahu emphasized his government's decision to continue exerting military and political pressure, a strategy he believes delivered the desired results.
During a security assessment with senior military leaders, Netanyahu stated that there were suggestions to accept what he described as 'Hamas's dictates,' which he declined, arguing that withdrawal from the strip would have signified a 'crushing defeat' for Israel, contrary to the views of some proponents of that approach.
He added that his government relied on a combination of intensive military pressure and diplomatic maneuvers, alongside garnering U.S. support. Netanyahu asserted that this path, while challenging, ultimately proved successful.
Netanyahu indicated that accepting Gaza withdrawal would have allowed adversaries to reconstruct their capabilities within a few years. He mentioned figures such as Muhammad Deif, Yahya Sinwar, Ismail Haniyeh, Hassan Nasrallah, Ali Khamenei, and Bashar al-Assad, who would have remained in their positions while retaining their military prowess.
The Israeli Prime Minister affirmed that military operations are ongoing, stating that Israel continues to face additional tasks in the Gaza Strip and on other fronts, hinting at the persistent security challenges his government perceives as ongoing.