During a press conference on Saturday night, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisted that he hadn’t moved “a millimeter” on the hostage release framework discussed with Biden, but that Hamas has made “29 changes” since negotiations began.
The Israeli premier said that any hostage deal agreement would have to allow Israel to pursue “absolute victory” against Hamas.
“Many of you are asking when this war will end. My answer is clear and unequivocal: it will only end in victory,” Netanyahu said.
“It will be achieved that he will eliminate the governmental and military capabilities of Hamas and that we will return all our abductees home,” he added.
“Let us ensure that Gaza will no longer pose a threat to Israel. When evacuees in the south and north safely return to their homes, this is absolute victory,” he explained.
Netanyahu has insisted that he has held firm to the hostage release agreement but that Hamas has been shifting the goalposts and interfering with negotiations.
This contradicts a report from Egyptian officials who say negotiations are halted and blame Israelis for adding conditions to the agreement.
