Hamas stated in a statement that Netanyahu’s talk of liberating Gaza is deception hiding his plans for forced displacement, destruction of livelihoods, and installing an authority loyal to him. He utilizes the prisoner issue to justify aggression despite killing dozens of them and reneging on exchange agreements. We were one step away from reaching an agreement and prisoner exchange, and Netanyahu withdrew from the last round of negotiations. The only way to preserve the lives of prisoners is to stop aggression and reach an agreement, not continue bombing and siege.
The statement clarified that claims of delivering two million tons of aid are contradicted by UN data confirming ongoing acute hunger and child deaths. It accused Israel of deliberately closing crossings and dropping aid in dangerous areas or at sea, leading to dozens of deaths.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared today, Sunday, that Israel’s goal in the Gaza Strip is a non-Israeli entity not led by Hamas or the Palestinian Authority. Netanyahu stated at a press conference that Israel does not want to retain the strip nor govern it and will establish safe areas for Gaza residents to move to.
Regarding the humanitarian situation, Netanyahu affirmed that Israel’s policy during the war is to prevent a humanitarian crisis, mentioning the entry of 2 million tons of aid into Gaza since the beginning of the war. A statement from Netanyahu’s office explained that under this plan, they are preparing to impose control on the city of Gaza while providing humanitarian aid to civilians in areas outside the combat zone.
The statement added that the Security Cabinet approved, by majority vote, five principles to end the war: disarming Hamas, returning all prisoners alive and dead, disarming the Gaza Strip, Israeli security control over Gaza, and establishing an alternative civil administration not affiliated with Hamas or the Palestinian Authority. The statement confirmed that an overwhelming majority of government ministers considered the alternative plan presented to the Cabinet for consideration would neither defeat Hamas nor return the prisoners, without providing further details.
