Israeli Prime Minister declines Biden’s plan for permanent ceasefire saying the war is „far from over.“
The feasibility of a U.S.-backed proposal to end the eight-month-long conflict in Gaza was thrown into doubt on Monday after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced his willingness to agree only to a „partial“ ceasefire.
Netanyahu’s comments, aired in an interview with the conservative Israeli on Sunday, have ignited a backlash from the families of hostages held by Hamas.
Netanyahu stated he was „prepared to make a partial deal—this is no secret—that will return to us some of the people“, referring to the approximately 120 hostages still detained in Gaza. „But we are committed to continuing the war after a pause, in order to complete the goal of eliminating Hamas. I’m not willing to give up on that“, he added.
These remarks come as a surprise after U.S. President Joe Biden presented the plan as an Israeli initiative, referred to by some in Israel as „Netanyahu’s deal.“ His comments could further strain U.
