JERUSALEM: Israel has despatched negotiators for truce talks in Cairo as requested by US President Joe Biden however they didn’t return for additional talks as a result of Hamas’ calls for have been “delusional,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu mentioned on Saturday.
Netanyahu additionally mentioned Israel wouldn’t give in to “worldwide dictates” relating to a statehood settlement with the Palestinians, which he mentioned may solely be reached by means of direct negotiations with out preconditions.
The Egyptian and Qatari-mediated talks to attempt to attain a ceasefire in Gaza and safe the discharge of over 100 Israeli hostages being held within the Hamas-ruled territory have but to provide outcomes. A spherical of inconclusive talks in Cairo ended on Tuesday.
Requested throughout a press convention on Saturday why Israeli negotiators didn’t return for additional talks, Netanyahu mentioned: “We received nothing apart from delusional calls for from Hamas.”
These calls for, he mentioned, included ending the battle and leaving Hamas as it’s, releasing “1000’s of murderers” from Israeli jails, and even calls for relating to a flashpoint holy web site in Jerusalem often known as the Temple Mount in Judaism and the Noble Sanctuary in Islam.
He mentioned Israeli representatives in Cairo “sat and listened and there was no change. I needed to say not a millimeter – however there was not a nanometer of change.”
Netanyahu mentioned there was no cause for them to return “till we see a change”.
Including stress on Netanyahu to achieve a cope with Hamas, 1000’s of Israelis gathered outdoors the navy headquarters in Tel Aviv in help of the hostages nonetheless in Gaza. They held up pictures and indicators calling for his or her launch, together with one which learn: “Time is operating out!”
Amongst them was Michael Levy, whose brother Or was taken hostage from an out of doors dance competition close to the Gaza border within the Hamas assault on southern Israel on Oct. 7 which triggered the current battle.
“Now we have no time anymore. My brother,” he mentioned, pausing to look down at his shirt together with his brother’s image, “has misplaced his spouse, (she) was murdered on this horrible assault on October 7. He has a son, a 2-year-old son, who’s ready for him at house.”
The Hamas assault killed some 1,200 individuals, principally civilians, based on Israeli tallies. The militants additionally seized 253 hostages, although greater than 100 of them have been freed in a short-lived November truce.
Israel’s air and floor offensive has since devastated a lot of Gaza, killing 28,775 individuals, additionally principally civilians based on Palestinian well being authorities, and forcing almost all of its greater than 2 million inhabitants from their houses.
Concerning the attainable “unilateral recognition” of a Palestinian state, Netanyahu mentioned there couldn’t be a “larger prize for terrorism”.
“Israel beneath my management will proceed to strongly oppose the unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state,” he mentioned. “An association may be reached solely by means of direct negotiations between the edges, with out preconditions.”
Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh has blamed Israel for a scarcity of progress in reaching a ceasefire deal in Gaza, the group mentioned in an announcement on Saturday.
Haniyeh mentioned Hamas wouldn’t settle for something lower than an entire cessation of hostilities, Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and “lifting of the unjust siege,” in addition to a launch of Palestinian prisoners serving lengthy sentences in Israeli jails.
Netanyahu additionally mentioned Israel wouldn’t give in to “worldwide dictates” relating to a statehood settlement with the Palestinians, which he mentioned may solely be reached by means of direct negotiations with out preconditions.
The Egyptian and Qatari-mediated talks to attempt to attain a ceasefire in Gaza and safe the discharge of over 100 Israeli hostages being held within the Hamas-ruled territory have but to provide outcomes. A spherical of inconclusive talks in Cairo ended on Tuesday.
Requested throughout a press convention on Saturday why Israeli negotiators didn’t return for additional talks, Netanyahu mentioned: “We received nothing apart from delusional calls for from Hamas.”
These calls for, he mentioned, included ending the battle and leaving Hamas as it’s, releasing “1000’s of murderers” from Israeli jails, and even calls for relating to a flashpoint holy web site in Jerusalem often known as the Temple Mount in Judaism and the Noble Sanctuary in Islam.
He mentioned Israeli representatives in Cairo “sat and listened and there was no change. I needed to say not a millimeter – however there was not a nanometer of change.”
Netanyahu mentioned there was no cause for them to return “till we see a change”.
Including stress on Netanyahu to achieve a cope with Hamas, 1000’s of Israelis gathered outdoors the navy headquarters in Tel Aviv in help of the hostages nonetheless in Gaza. They held up pictures and indicators calling for his or her launch, together with one which learn: “Time is operating out!”
Amongst them was Michael Levy, whose brother Or was taken hostage from an out of doors dance competition close to the Gaza border within the Hamas assault on southern Israel on Oct. 7 which triggered the current battle.
“Now we have no time anymore. My brother,” he mentioned, pausing to look down at his shirt together with his brother’s image, “has misplaced his spouse, (she) was murdered on this horrible assault on October 7. He has a son, a 2-year-old son, who’s ready for him at house.”
The Hamas assault killed some 1,200 individuals, principally civilians, based on Israeli tallies. The militants additionally seized 253 hostages, although greater than 100 of them have been freed in a short-lived November truce.
Israel’s air and floor offensive has since devastated a lot of Gaza, killing 28,775 individuals, additionally principally civilians based on Palestinian well being authorities, and forcing almost all of its greater than 2 million inhabitants from their houses.
Concerning the attainable “unilateral recognition” of a Palestinian state, Netanyahu mentioned there couldn’t be a “larger prize for terrorism”.
“Israel beneath my management will proceed to strongly oppose the unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state,” he mentioned. “An association may be reached solely by means of direct negotiations between the edges, with out preconditions.”
Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh has blamed Israel for a scarcity of progress in reaching a ceasefire deal in Gaza, the group mentioned in an announcement on Saturday.
Haniyeh mentioned Hamas wouldn’t settle for something lower than an entire cessation of hostilities, Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and “lifting of the unjust siege,” in addition to a launch of Palestinian prisoners serving lengthy sentences in Israeli jails.
