Netanyahu tells Blinken Israel won’t accept Hamas demand to end war, Rafah op will go ahead

By Lazar Berman

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1 May 2024, 3:53 pm 24 Edit

Lazar Berman is The Times of Israel's diplomatic reporter

United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken meets with Israelis during a protest calling for the release of Israelis held kidnapped by Hamas terrorists in Gaza, in Tel Aviv on May 1, 2024.(Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told US Secretary of State Antony Blinken that he would not accept an end to the war in Gaza as part of a hostage deal, an Israeli official tells The Times of Israel.

“He told Blinken that we are interested in reaching a deal, and determined to topple Hamas,” says the official.

Netanyahu also pledged that the invasion of Rafah would happen, the Prime Minister’s Office tells The Times of Israel.

“The Rafah operation does not depend on anything,” says the PMO. “Prime Minister Netanyahu made this clear to Secretary Blinken.”