Benjamin Netanyahu has refused to bow to pressure to strike a hostage swap deal or end the war in Gaza, brushing aside mass protests in Israel while reiterating his core demands for a ceasefire. In a defiant late-night news conference, the Israeli prime minister stuck to his long-held position on the need for a military presence along Gaza’s border with Egypt, despite warnings from international mediators and his own security chiefs that doing so could delay the release of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.
Netanyahu’s uncompromising stance came after a day of mass demonstrations across Israel during a general strike expressing public frustration with his failure to secure a hostage deal. It followed a second consecutive night of mass street protests following the killing of six Israeli hostages held by Hamas over the weekend. Hamas claimed they were killed in an Israeli airstrike, a claim the Israeli military dismissed as “psychological terror.”
“No one is more committed to the release of the hostages than I am. But no one is going to lecture me,” Netanyahu said. The strike was one of the biggest expressions of public discontent with Netanyahu’s government since the Hamas attack on October 7 and marked the first large-scale general strike.
Despite calls from Washington to show flexibility and allow a cease-fire deal involving hostages, Netanyahu has remained firm on Israeli control of the so-called Philadelphia corridor, now seen as the biggest obstacle facing negotiators. “This corridor is essential for our survival,” Netanyahu said, arguing that the border was the “lifeline” that allowed Hamas to smuggle weapons into Gaza and “turn itself into a threat.”
“That’s why Hamas insists on this. And that’s why I insist on it,” Netanyahu added. However, US President Joe Biden expressed his impatience with Netanyahu’s negotiating stance earlier on Monday. When asked whether Netanyahu was doing enough to allow a deal, Biden replied: “No.”
Asked about the US president’s comments, Netanyahu told reporters he “didn’t believe President Biden said that” and cited what he said were statements by US officials in recent months pointing to Israeli flexibility in the long-stalled negotiations.
Yet in a 15-minute presentation filled with maps, Mr. Netanyahu vowed never to budge on the Philadelphia corridor, a position confirmed by the Israeli cabinet in a vote late last week. Israel’s security chiefs, including Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, argued that a retreat from that position could be acceptable if it secured the release of the hostages.
Some 101 hostages captured by Hamas, including foreigners, remain in captivity. Israeli intelligence believes at least a third, and possibly more, are dead. When asked about his disagreement with the defense minister, Netanyahu said he “expected all ministers to follow the decisions of the cabinet.” While he did not guarantee that Gallant would remain in office, Netanyahu indicated that he could remain in the cabinet “as long as there is trust.”
Netanyahu reinforced his position that by stepping up military pressure on Hamas, it would be possible to force them to give in. “When we put the boot on Hamas’ neck, is that when they want us to make concessions?” Netanyahu asked, arguing that only additional pressure would make Hamas compromise. He added: “When Hamas realizes that we are not ending the war, they will give in.”
Via News Agencies
Source: https://www.ocafezinho.com/2024/09/03/em-meio-a-protestos-netanyahu-se-recusa-a-ceder-em-negociacoes-de-paz/
