Hamas says 'No chance' of releasing Israeli hostages after Netanyahu rejects demands

In a setback to the prospects of releasing remaining hostages held by Hamas, a Hamas official stated on Sunday that Benjamin Netanyahu’s rejection of their conditions made the return of the hostages “impossible.” Netanyahu dismissed Hamas’s conditions, including leaving the group in power and Israel’s complete withdrawal from the territory. Sami Abu Zuhri, a Hamas official, told Reuters that the Israeli prime minister’s refusal to end the military offensive in Gaza significantly reduced the chance of the return of the estimated 130 Israeli captives. Despite mounting pressure on Netanyahu to secure the release, he labeled Hamas demands as unacceptable, involving the withdrawal of forces, release of prisoners, and leaving Hamas intact. “I reject outright the terms of surrender of the monsters of Hamas,” he added. As tensions escalated, family members of hostages initiated a protest outside Netanyahu’s private home in Jerusalem, demanding a deal for the return of the hostages. Israel’s Hostages and Missing Families Forum emphasized that the protest would persist until the prime minister agrees to such a deal. Highlighting the background, a deal brokered in late November involving the United States, Qatar, and Egypt led to the release of over 100 hostages taken captive by Hamas in October. However, subsequent attempts to secure a ceasefire have failed. Netanyahu, facing criticism for his approach, reiterated his commitment to pursuing the offensive until “total victory.” Meanwhile, questions within Israel have arisen regarding the war’s conduct, accusing the prime minister of indecision. In a broader context, Netanyahu restated his strong stance against Palestinian statehood, emphasising full Israeli security control over the territory west of the Jordan River. Rejecting Joe Biden’s call for a Palestinian state, Netanyahu argued that retaining security control over Gaza was crucial to prevent it from posing a threat to Israel. Gaza’s health ministry reported on Sunday that Israel’s three-month assault had resulted in the death of 25,000 Palestinians, with UN chief António Guterres condemning the civilian killings as “heartbreaking and utterly unacceptable” at a global summit in Kampala. The majority of casualties were women and children, and thousands more were likely unaccounted for under the rubble in Gaza. (with inputs from Reuters)