Israel won’t submit to delusional demands of Hamas — Netanyahu

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday vowed to push forward with his campaign to eliminate the Hamas militant group, stating that Israel will not submit to their demands.

Netanyahu also criticized a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate cease-fire in Gaza.

“Israel will not submit to the delusional demands of Hamas, and will continue to act to achieve all the goals of the war: to release all the abductees, to destroy the military and governmental capabilities of Hamas and to ensure that Gaza will no longer pose a threat to Israel,” Netanyahu said in a statement.

It will be recalled that Hamas officials said Monday they told negotiators working on a temporary cease-fire deal that Hamas would not alter its proposal that includes a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and an exchange of hostages held in Gaza for prisoners held by Israel.

The two warring sides have shown little movement in their demands despite weeks of efforts by US, Egyptian and Qatari negotiators to find a way to bring a temporary halt in fighting, the release of hostages and an increase in badly needed humanitarian aid for civilians in Gaza.

Netanyahu said that the Hamas position proves the terror group “is not interested in continuing negotiations for a deal, and is an unfortunate testimony to the damage of the Security Council’s decision.”

The Security Council resolution adopted Monday “demands” an immediate cease-fire for the month of Ramadan, which is half over, “leading to a lasting sustainable cease-fire.” It also demands the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, the lifting of all barriers to the provision of more humanitarian aid, and the protection of civilians in Gaza.

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