Netanyahu says Israel standing firm on key demands in hostage talks, willing to be flexible in other areas

Speaking at the start of the weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says that Israel is sticking to its demands in ongoing hostage talks, positions that he says are in line with the proposal laid out by the White House in May.

“We are conducting very complex negotiations,” he says, “while on the other side stands a murderous, uninhibited, and obstinate terrorist organization.”

“But I want to emphasize,” the premier continues, “we are conducting negotiations [“give-and-take” in Hebrew], and not give-and-give. There are areas where we can show flexibility, and there are area where we can’t show flexibility — and we are standing firm on them. We know quite well how to distinguish between the two.”

There has been some optimism expressed by mediators after another round of hostage talks in Doha on Thursday and Friday. The US is trying to find a way to bridge gaps between Israeli and Hamas positions on the Philadelphi Corridor, the Rafah Crossing, the number and identity of hostages and security prisoners to be swapped, and the deployment of IDF forces if an agreement is reached.

“Alongside the great efforts we are making to return our abductees,” says Netanyahu, “we stand firm on the principles we have established, which are essential to Israel’s security.”

He says that the principles are “consistent with the May 27 outline, which received American support.”

Netanyahu says that Hamas is continuing to refuse a deal: “It did not even send a representative to the talks in Doha. The pressure should be directed at Hamas and [its leader Yahya] Sinwar, not at the Israeli government.”

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will be in Israel tomorrow to meet with Netanyahu about the hostage talks.

“Strong military pressure, and strong diplomatic pressure, is the way to achieve the release of our hostages,” says Netanyahu in a likely message to Washington.

In a warning to Iran and Hezbollah, which have pledged to respond to recent high-profile assassinations in Tehran and Beirut, Netanyahu says that Israel is “prepared for every threat, both on defense and on the attack. We are are determined to defend ourselves, and we are also determined to extract a very heavy price from any enemy that dares to attack us, from any theater.”