From Netanyahu falsely claims Hamas began releasing hostages after Israel entered Rafah, Philadelphi
Jacob Magid is The Times of Israel's US bureau chief
Speaking at an English press conference regarding the importance of Israel remaining in the Philadelphi Corridor, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu falsely claims that Hamas began giving back Israeli hostages after the IDF entered Rafah and the Philadelphi Corridor in May.
“You know when they started giving us hostages? When we went into Philadelphi, when we went into Rafah, when we controlled the Rafah crossing. That’s when they felt the pressure.”
There has been no hostage deal since November, well before Israel invaded Rafah.
Netanyahu then appears to soften his claim.
“The first deal that we got was a result of our invasion [of Gaza], the military pressure we put in. [Hamas] gave us the hostages. After that, they thought we’ll have international pressure turn on Israel, so we won’t have to make any concessions.”
“But after [the invasion of] Rafah, they began to change,” he says, apparently referring to Hamas’s July caving of its main demand for an upfront commitment to a permanent ceasefire.
“If we leave Rafah, if we leave the Philadelphi Corridor, there won’t be any pressure. We won’t get the hostages,” Netanyahu asserts.
He fumes at the fresh pressure on Israel for compromise to achieve a deal in the wake of Hamas murdering six Israeli hostages last week. That pressure on Israel sends the message to Hamas of “murder more hostages; you’ll get more concessions,” which Netanyahu calls immoral and insane.
