According to reports, Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, has set a specific condition for a cessation of hostilities in the conflict-ravaged Gaza region. He made it clear that Israel would only consider a ceasefire in the Gaza war if the hostages are safely returned.
Netanyahu conveyed this requirement during a visit to the Ramon Air Force base located in the southern region of Israel. He emphasized that he was conveying this message to both the nation’s allies and adversaries.
“I also want you to know that there is one thing that we will not do – there will be no ceasefire without the return of the captives,” Netanyahu told the pilots according to The Jerusalem Post. “The very idea of doing that has to be removed from the conversation,” he added.
“We (are saying) this to both our enemies and our friends. We will continue (the battle) until we have defeated them (our enemy). We have no alternative. I think today everyone understands that” The Jerusalem Post quoted him as saying.
The health ministry in Gaza, which is controlled by Hamas, reported on Sunday that approximately 9,770 individuals had lost their lives in the Palestinian territory since the outbreak of the conflict with Israel last month.
The ministry further stated that among those casualties, around 4,800 were children. The conflict began when Israel launched strikes on the Gaza Strip in response to attacks by Hamas militants in southern Israel on October 7. These attacks, according to Israeli officials, resulted in the deaths of over 1,400 people, with the majority of them being civilians, as reported by AFP.
The latest information brings the death toll on both sides to 11,187.
