The prime minister said only the immediate release of all hostages, the disarmament of Hamas and the ‘demilitarisation’ of the Strip could end the conflict
August 17, 2025 08:56
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last night confirmed his support for an agreement with Hamas to end the war in Gaza, but only if it meant the release of all the remaining hostages.
“We will agree to an agreement in which all the hostages are released at once and according to our conditions for ending the war, which include the disarmament of Hamas, the demilitarisation of the Strip, Israeli control of the perimeter, and the establishment of a governing authority that is neither Hamas nor the Palestinian Authority, and that will live in peace with Israel," read a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office.
His comments would appear to rule out the type or partial or phased hostage release deal which have previously led to temporary ceasefires.
Such a deal would likely face stiff opposition from the more right-wing members of his coalition, with Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich previously saying that only “total victory” over Hamas could end the war.
Netanyahu’s remarks followed a report from Channel 12 News that the Israeli negotiating team has told the political echelon that there have been changes in Hamas' position over the past week that could allow for the terrorist group to return to negotiations on a phased deal based on the outline proposed by US envoy Steve Witkoff.
Witkoff’s plan entails a 60-day ceasefire, with half the remaining hostages released at the start and half at the end, setting the scene for permanent peace negotiations.
Channel 12 also reported that the defense establishment supports a partial deal. According to the report, security officials and some Likud ministers are urging the government not to give up on a partial deal.
However, in addition to Smotrich, Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and others in cabinet support only a full deal to return all of the hostages and end the war on Jerusalem's terms.
A Qatari delegation has arrived in Egypt and there is reportedly an accelerated attempt to bring the parties back to the negotiating table.
Meanwhile, the IDF said on Friday that troops have already begun operating in Gaza City’s southwestern Zeitoun quarter, targeting explosives, gunmen and terrorist infrastructure above and below ground. The military said on Saturday that it was preparing to relocate residents out of combat zones to southern Gaza ahead of the offensive to occupy the city.
According to Israeli authorities, Palestinian terrorist factions in Gaza continue to hold 50 hostages, of whom 20 are believed to be alive.
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