Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, In an interview late Sunday night, he assured that he “ready for partial agreement” with Hamas achieve the return of some of the hostages who remain kidnapped in the Gaza Strip, but insisted that will not stop the war until the Islamist group is destroyed.

“We must continue the fight after a pause to achieve our goal of destroying Hamas,” The politician defended himself on the right-wing Channel 14 program Los Patriotas, in his first interview with Jewish media since October 7.

Shortly after it was broadcast, the Prime Minister’s Office sent a statement clarifying that “It is Hamas that opposes the agreement, not Israel,” given the criticism that has been leveled at Netanyahu for his statements accusing the Israeli leader of intending to maintain the conflict instead of conceding to achieve a truce.

“The Prime Minister has made it clear that “We will not leave Gaza until 120 hostages, living and dead, return,” the statement says.

In response, Hamas published a text insisting that any agreement must include “a clear statement of a permanent ceasefire.” and a complete withdrawal from the Gaza Strip” as “an inevitable necessity to block Netanyahu’s attempts to evade, deceive and perpetuate aggression.”

The Islamist organization assured that Netanyahu’s statements “are a clear confirmation of his rejection of a recent Security Council resolution and President Biden’s proposals.”

The resolution adopted on June 10, supported the ceasefire proposal of US President Joe Biden, negotiations on which Israel and Hamas have been conducting in recent weeks through the mediation of the United States, Egypt and Qatar.

This draft agreement with the United States includes in the first stage temporary ceasefire during which there will be a partial exchange of hostages (women, elderly and wounded) in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.

However, Hamas and Israel always clash on the same red line: final ceasefire, This is a necessary condition for Islamists and something unacceptable for Netanyahu, whose military goals primarily include the destruction of his military and government capabilities.

Regarding the progress of the war, the Prime Minister said in an interview that “The high-intensity war scenario will end soon,” and it will happen “very soon.”

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Of the 251 abducted on October 7 116 prisoners remain in the enclave. at least 40 of them died according to Israel – more than 70 according to Hamas -; while there were four other hostages over the years, two of them are dead.

Since the start of the war, Israel and Hamas only reached a one-week ceasefire agreement at the end of November, allowing release 105 hostages in exchange for 240 Palestinian prisoners.

(EFE)