Netanyahu announces his refusal to withdraw & end the war

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday, May 5, 2024, that he rejects Hamas’ demands to end the war and withdraw the occupying army from Gaza, while Hamas’ political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh affirmed that his movement is eager to reach a comprehensive agreement linked to ending the aggression.

Netanyahu claimed in the opening of the Israeli Cabinet session that Hamas is sticking to its “extremist” positions, accusing it of obstructing the release of Israeli prisoners. He reiterated that the release of Israeli prisoners is a top priority for his government, stating that “Israel does not want to pay a price for reaching an agreement with Hamas,” which includes “Hamas remaining, ending the war, and withdrawing the Israeli army from Gaza.”

According to Netanyahu, “Israel cannot accept that; we are not willing to accept a situation where Hamas emerges from its hideouts, regains control of Gaza, rebuilds its military infrastructure, and threatens our citizens.”

Haniyeh: Eager for a comprehensive agreement linked to ending the aggression In turn, Hamas’ political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh affirmed that his movement “remains eager to reach a comprehensive and interconnected agreement that ends the aggression, ensures withdrawal, and achieves a serious prisoner exchange deal.”

This came in a statement issued by Haniyeh, where he pointed out that his movement “affirms its seriousness and positivity ahead of the current round of negotiations,” conducting a series of communications with mediators and resistance factions and holding intensive meetings before sending the delegation to Cairo.

He emphasized that the Hamas delegation in Cairo carried positive and flexible positions, “with the importance of focusing on prioritizing the cessation of aggression against our people, which is a fundamental and logical position, laying the foundation for a more stable future.”

Haniyeh also stressed that “the world is held hostage by an extremist government, plagued by a huge array of political problems and crimes committed in Gaza, and its leader wants to constantly invent justifications for continuing aggression, expanding the conflict, and sabotaging efforts made through various mediators and parties.”

Meanwhile, he added that the United States, which has provided cover for the occupation, should be the one to stop it instead of supplying it with weapons of destruction and annihilation.

Statements from Netanyahu and Haniyeh come at a time when media sources speak of “positive progress” in the negotiations in Cairo.

Egyptian state channel “Al-Qahira Al-Ikhbariyya” quoted a high-ranking source as saying that there is positive progress in the negotiations regarding reaching an agreement to halt the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, noting that “what is being published about the agreement’s provisions in the media is inaccurate.”

Netanyahu faces increasing pressure from within his government members to not accept a deal that leads to ending the war and cancelling the invasion of Rafah in the south of the strip, despite escalating international warnings of the danger this poses to the densely populated city of refugees.

Previously, Finance Minister Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir threatened to dissolve the government if the invasion of Rafah is canceled, claiming that it is necessary “to eliminate Hamas,” according to their promotion.