 "‘Won’t capitulate to demand to end war:’ Netanyahu declares as he blasts Hamas for rejecting proposal")
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu in a recorded message said Palestinian militant group Hamas rejected a proposal to return half of the remaining living hostages over the weekend, insisting he won’t “capitulate” to demands of ending the war.
“If we capitulate to the dictates of Hamas now, all the great achievements of the war, which we achieved with the merit of our soldiers and our fallen and our heroic injured, all these achievements will disappear,” Netanyahu said.
“As your prime minister, I will not capitulate to murderers who committed the worst massacre against the Jewish people since the Holocaust. Capitulation like this will endanger the country and endanger you,” he added.
Netanyahu also dismissed claims that Israel would re-impose war on Hamas after all hostages are returned by the militant group, saying that is not how international diplomacy works.
‘Committed to prevent Iran from going nuclear’
In his address, the Israeli PM reiterated his commitment to preventing Iran from going nuclear. He also attacked his critics for accusing him of failing to strike Iranian nuclear sites, arguing that the same critics in past opposed his actions against the Shi’ite nation.
“It is amusing to listen to the criticism of those who opposed the actions I took to harm and delay Iran’s nuclear program in the past, actions without which Iran would have had a nuclear weapon 10 years ago,” Netanyahu asserted.
Tensions over Israel’s approach to Iran have deepened, with Opposition Leader Yair Lapid accusing Netanyahu of missing key chances to act against Tehran.
Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett added that Netanyahu has repeatedly failed to follow through on his tough rhetoric. These criticisms came after reports emerged that US President Donald Trump recently blocked an Israeli plan to strike Iran’s nuclear sites. While not denying the reports, Trump stated he was not in a hurry to approve such military action, signalling caution despite rising concerns about Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
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