Netanyahu rejects 'concessions' to Hamas as pressure mounts over Gaza hostages

NEWS WIRES

2 September 2024 at 4:15 am·1-min read

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday rejected calls to soften his demand to keep troops in the southern Gazan border area as the price for a ceasefire deal as hundreds of thousands of Israelis staged a nationwide strike in a bid to pressure the government to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas.

Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Monday pushed back against a new wave of pressure to reach a ceasefire deal in Gaza after hundreds of thousands of Israeli protested and went on strike and US President Joe Biden said he needed to do more after nearly 11 months of fighting.

In his first public address since Sunday's mass protests showed many Israelis' furious response to the discovery of six more dead hostages, Netanyahu said he will continue to insist on a demand that has emerged as a major sticking point in talks – continued Israeli control of the Philadelphi corridor, a narrow band along Gaza's border with Egypt where Israel contends Hamas smuggles weapons into Gaza. Egypt and Hamas deny it.

Netanyahu called the corridor vital to ensuring Hamas cannot rearm via tunnels. “This is the oxygen of Hamas,” he said.

And he added: “No one is more committed to freeing the hostages than me. But no one will preach to me."

He insisted that negotiators remain “very close” to a deal, adding, “Hope springs eternal”.

(AP)

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