Israel: The Israeli Prime Minister, Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu, has stated that new negotiation talks to recover hostages held by Hamas are underway.
Mr. Netanyahu declared that Gaza would be demilitarised and come under Israeli security control during a televised news conference. The PM also called the conflict an “existential war” that must be waged until victory, despite pressure and costs.
A partial hostage-release agreement was reached in November, according to Mr. Netanyahu, who also pledged to keep up strong military pressure on Hamas.
“The instruction I am giving the negotiating team is predicated on this pressure, without which we have nothing,” the PM said.
Mr. Netanyahu made these remarks following a meeting between the prime minister of Qatar and the head of Mossad, the Israeli intelligence organization. Qatar mediates disputes between Israel and Hamas; its efforts culminated in a hostage-taking and seven-day ceasefire last month.
Qatar had confirmed that negotiations were underway for a potential new ceasefire on Saturday.
Answering a question about the meeting supposedly held in Europe, Mr. Netanyahu acknowledged that he had given the negotiating team instructions.
“We have serious criticisms of Qatar … but right now we are trying to complete the recovery of our hostages,” the Israeli Prime Minister said.
A Hamas statement later said the group “affirms its position not to open any negotiations to exchange prisoners unless the aggression against our people stops once and for all.”
“The movement communicated this position to all mediators,” it added. Three Hamas hostages, all in their 20s, were accidentally killed by Israeli forces in Gaza City’s Shijaiyah neighbourhood, where the troops are fighting fiercely against Hamas, as per the statement.
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