Netanyahu dismisses ‘idle rumors’ about imminent ceasefire for hostage deal

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu repeats the Israeli policy that there will be no ceasefire in Gaza without the release of hostages.

“I want to put to the side all sorts of idle rumors that we are hearing from all sorts of directions, and repeat one clear thing: there will be no ceasefire without the release of our hostages.”

Netanyahu appears to be dismissing a growing slew of reports from Qatar, Egypt and Hamas itself that a deal is imminent for the release of 10-15 hostages from Israel in exchange for a multi-day pause in fighting.

The prime minister’s comments did not make clear if the release of a significant chunk of hostages would be sufficient for some sort of pause to take place as opposed to a ceasefire.

The IDF spokesman says shortly afterward that any discussion of a “ceasefire” is not on the table, but humanitarian pauses may be part of talks.