September 2nd 2024.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has humbly approached the families of the six hostages whose bodies were recently recovered, asking for their forgiveness. In the midst of a new surge of pressure to reach a ceasefire agreement in Gaza, Netanyahu remained resolute in his stance, despite facing criticism from both his own people and the US President, Joe Biden.
During a press conference on Monday, Netanyahu expressed his deep regret to the families, saying, "I told the families, and I repeat and say this evening: I am asking for your forgiveness that we didn't manage to bring them back alive. We were very close but we couldn't make it." This statement came after Sunday's mass protests, where hundreds of thousands of Israelis took to the streets in response to the discovery of six more hostages who had been killed.
This was the first public address by Netanyahu since the protests, and he made it clear that he will continue to insist on a demand that has become a major point of contention in the negotiations. This demand is for continued Israeli control of the Philadelphi corridor, a narrow strip along Gaza's border with Egypt that Israel claims is used by Hamas to smuggle weapons. However, both Egypt and Hamas have denied this.
Netanyahu stressed the importance of this corridor in preventing Hamas from rearming through underground tunnels, stating, "This is the oxygen of Hamas." He also made it clear that he is fully committed to freeing the hostages, but will not be swayed by anyone's opinions or criticisms.
The Israeli public is deeply divided on the issue, with some blaming Netanyahu for the hostages' deaths, while others support his determination to continue the campaign in Gaza. The war was triggered by Hamas' attack on Israel in October and has resulted in significant casualties and destruction in the region. Netanyahu believes that this campaign will ultimately lead to the rescue of the hostages and the destruction of Hamas.
However, the United States, a key ally of Israel, is growing impatient with the ongoing conflict. President Biden, who had a meeting with the US mediation team, expressed his dissatisfaction with Netanyahu's actions, stating, "No." He also mentioned that the negotiators are close to reaching a deal, saying, "Hope springs eternal."
Meanwhile, Hamas has accused Israel of prolonging the negotiations by making new demands, such as continued Israeli control over the Philadelphi corridor and a second corridor across Gaza. In return, Hamas has offered to release all hostages, end the war, and release a large number of Palestinian prisoners, including high-profile militants, which aligns with a deal outlined by Biden in July.
Netanyahu, however, is determined to achieve "total victory" over Hamas and has placed the blame for the failed negotiations on the militant group. He has proposed a plan for the first phase of a ceasefire, which includes the release of some hostages, a partial withdrawal of Israeli troops, and the release of some Palestinian prisoners. However, he remains firm in his refusal to fully withdraw from Gaza, stating that no other party besides Israel is capable of securing the region's borders and preventing arms smuggling.
There have also been reports of disagreements between Netanyahu and top security officials, with Defense Minister Yoav Gallant calling for a ceasefire, while Netanyahu remains steadfast in his stance. In a recent security cabinet meeting, Gallant was the only member to vote against Netanyahu's proposal to maintain control over the Philadelphi corridor, stating that the Prime Minister was prioritizing border arrangements over the lives of the hostages.
Despite these tensions, Netanyahu remains determined to see the conflict through to the end, even if it means facing criticism and opposition from his own people and allies. In a recent interview with Al Jazeera, Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya revealed that Netanyahu had deemed the Philadelphi corridor more important than the release of the hostages, further highlighting the ongoing struggle for control in the region.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has humbly approached the families of six hostages whose bodies were tragically recovered over the weekend, asking for their forgiveness. In the midst of mounting pressure to reach a ceasefire deal in Gaza, Netanyahu has stood firm in his determination to continue the fight, despite facing criticism from both his own people and US President Joe Biden.
"I had the opportunity to speak with the families and I must repeat and reiterate this evening: I ask for your forgiveness for not being able to bring back your loved ones alive. We were so close, but unfortunately, we fell short," the prime minister expressed at a press conference on Monday.
Netanyahu's address came after Sunday's mass protests, where hundreds of thousands of Israelis took to the streets in response to the devastating news of six more hostages who had lost their lives. In his first public appearance since then, the prime minister maintained his stance on a key demand that has been a major point of contention in the ongoing negotiations.
This demand is for Israel to maintain control of the Philadelphi corridor, a narrow strip along the border of Gaza and Egypt that Israel believes is used by Hamas to smuggle weapons. Both Egypt and Hamas have denied these allegations, but Netanyahu stressed the importance of this corridor in preventing Hamas from rearming through underground tunnels.
"This is the lifeline of Hamas," he asserted. "No one is more committed to freeing the hostages than me, but no one can lecture me on this matter."
The nation was left reeling after the mass protests on Sunday, with many placing the blame on Netanyahu for not securing a deal with Hamas that could have potentially saved the hostages' lives. This anger was further fueled by a general strike across the country on Monday.
However, there are also those who support Netanyahu's resolve to continue the campaign in Gaza, which was launched in response to a deadly attack by Hamas in October. The prime minister believes that this military operation will force Hamas to agree to Israeli demands, potentially leading to the rescue of the remaining hostages and ultimately, the defeat of the group.
But while Netanyahu remains steadfast, his key ally, the US, has grown impatient. Biden, who spoke to the media upon arriving at the White House for a Situation Room meeting, was asked if Netanyahu was doing enough. His answer was a simple "no". However, he also expressed hope that a deal could still be reached, saying, "Hope never dies."
Meanwhile, Hamas has accused Israel of prolonging the negotiations by introducing new demands, including continued control of the Philadelphi corridor and another corridor within Gaza. The group has offered to release all hostages in exchange for an end to the war, the withdrawal of Israeli forces, and the release of Palestinian prisoners. These terms align with a deal proposed by Biden in July.
Netanyahu, on the other hand, has promised to achieve "total victory" over Hamas and has placed the blame for the failure of the negotiations on the group. He has also announced his readiness to implement the first phase of a ceasefire plan, which includes the release of some hostages, a partial withdrawal of Israeli troops, and the release of some Palestinian prisoners. However, he has refused to agree to Hamas's key demand of a full withdrawal from Gaza, stating that only Israel can effectively secure the borders and prevent arms smuggling.
Reports have emerged of a growing rift between Netanyahu and top security officials, including Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, who believe that the time is ripe for a ceasefire. It was even confirmed that a heated argument took place between Gallant and Netanyahu at a security cabinet meeting last Thursday, where Netanyahu pushed for the continued control of the Philadelphi corridor. Gallant, who was the only one to vote against this proposal, has since called for the security cabinet to overturn the decision.
In the midst of this tense situation, Khalil al-Hayya, the Hamas official leading the negotiations, revealed in an interview with the Qatari network Al Jazeera that Netanyahu had placed a higher value on maintaining control of the Philadelphi corridor than on securing the release of the hostages.
Despite the mounting pressure and challenges, Netanyahu remains determined to see this through to the end, with the ultimate goal of bringing the remaining hostages home safely.
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