Israel open to ceasefire extension in Gaza, but ‘won’t wait forever,’ says Sa’ar

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar says Israel has not ruled out negotiating a ceasefire extension with the Hamas terror group in Gaza, but that there is limited time to do so.

“Alongside the IDF’s still-limited operations in Gaza, we are still allowing space for dialogue aimed at reaching an agreement to extend the ceasefire and release the hostages — but we will not wait forever,” Sa’ar tells Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard, according to a statement put out by his office.

During meetings at the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem today, Sa’ar briefed his counterpart on Israel’s resumed military operations in the Gaza Strip, which began last week after the first phase of a hostage-prisoner exchange ended on March 2.

“Hamas, which insists on continuing to hold the hostages and refuses to demilitarize the Gaza Strip, is pushing for the resumption of war in Gaza,” he says.

“If the Arabs put down their weapons, there will be no more war. But if Israel puts down its weapons, there will be no more Israel,” Sa’ar continues, quoting late prime minister Golda Meir.

“Israel will no longer tolerate the ongoing threat from the Gaza Strip to its security and citizens,” he tells Stenergard, according to the Foreign Ministry.