In an interview on U.S. television, he stated, "There’ll be no ceasefire, general ceasefire, in Gaza without the release of our hostages." Netanyahu did acknowledge the possibility of "tactical pauses," brief ceasefire periods for humanitarian aid and hostage releases.
He noted that a general ceasefire would not align with Israel's military objectives.
In a prior conversation with U.S. President Joe Biden, they discussed the concept of "tactical pauses" to facilitate the evacuation of civilians, deliver humanitarian assistance, and secure the release of additional hostages.
At present, more than 240 people, including U.S. citizens, are held by the Islamist group Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
Netanyahu's stance is rooted in the belief that military pressure is the most effective way to deal with Hamas. Meanwhile, the conflict in the Gaza Strip has resulted in a substantial number of Palestinian casualties, particularly among women and children. According to the Hamas-controlled Gaza Ministry of Health, the death toll has exceeded 10,000 since the conflict began a month ago.
