Israel will not accept agreement ending Gaza occupation: Netanyahu

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that he would not accept any agreement that would fully end the attacks and occupation in the Gaza Strip, as negotiations for a ceasefire and prisoner exchange with Hamas continue.

In a video message, Netanyahu addressed the ongoing attacks on Gaza, the potential for a ceasefire, and the future of Israeli military operations in the region. He reiterated that Israel would not agree to Hamas’s conditions for halting attacks and military occupation, arguing that without these conditions, U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposed plan to exile Gazans would be unfeasible.

Netanyahu claims Hamas rejected Israeli proposal

Netanyahu claimed that Israel’s goal is to facilitate the “voluntary migration” of Palestinians from Gaza to other countries, disguised as exile. He also claimed that Hamas had rejected an Israeli proposal for a prisoner swap this weekend, which included the release of half of the Israeli prisoners held by Hamas and the return of the bodies of deceased prisoners.

However, the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office later clarified that no official response had been received from Hamas.

Negotiations between Israel and Hamas for a new ceasefire and mutual prisoner exchange agreement are ongoing. Meanwhile, the international community continues to scrutinize Israel’s actions, with calls for accountability over the growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

An initial cease-fire and prisoner exchange deal between Hamas and Israel, brokered by Egypt and Qatar with U.S. support, began on Jan. 19 but was broken by Israel in mid-March.

Since October 2023, more than 51,000 Palestinians — the majority women and children — have been killed in Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.

The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants in November for Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Separately, Israel faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice over its war on the enclave.

Netanyahu defends stance on Iran

Meanwhile, in response to public and opposition criticism, Netanyahu addressed accusations of “cowardice” regarding his handling of Iran. He defended his previous actions to delay Iran’s nuclear program, stating, “It’s amusing to listen to the criticisms of those who opposed the steps I took in the past to harm and delay Iran’s nuclear program. If these steps hadn’t been taken, Iran could have had nuclear weapons 10 years ago.”

Netanyahu reiterated Israel’s commitment to preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and underscored Israel’s readiness to take military action if necessary.

This comes as reports from U.S. media suggest that Israel is preparing to strike Iran’s nuclear facilities, while Washington has pursued diplomatic negotiations with Tehran.

Opposition leader Yair Lapid, head of the Yesh Atid Party, accused Netanyahu of being “cowardly” and called for an immediate military strike on Iran’s nuclear sites.