PM says he won’t back deal that ends war with IDF leaving Gaza ‘so Hamas can return to power’

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tells the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee that “the only thing that Hamas wants is a deal that ends the war and for the IDF to leave the Strip in order to return to power,” according to Israel National News. “I am not ready to allow that under any circumstance.”

He continues to insist that Hamas “sees the pressure on Israel” and therefore believes that it can hold out for a better deal, according to the report.

The security establishment has warned that such a positions is a likely death sentence for the hostages.

Netanyahu says he gave instructions that by Thursday he is to have on his desk a plan for replacing Hamas in the distribution of humanitarian aid, says the outlet.

“We’ve struck Hamas militarily, but we haven’t harmed their ruling capabilities enough,” says Netanyahu according to Channel 12.

Members of the committee tell the outlet that Netanyahu that does not believe that an agreement in Lebanon will be effective, and therefore Israel is insisting on freedom of action against Hezbollah, according to Channel 12. Netanyahu tells the lawmakers that those demands are not being supported by the mediating countries, according to the report.