Israeli PM Claims Hamas Rejects Hostage Return Proposal
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Synopsis
On April 20, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Hamas rejected a hostage return deal, demanding an end to the conflict and Israeli withdrawal. He emphasized that yielding to demands would undermine war achievements and dismissed deceptive tactics to secure hostages, as protests erupted in Israel for immediate action on captives.
Key Takeaways
- Hamas rejected a hostage return proposal.
- Netanyahu emphasized the importance of not yielding to Hamas' demands.
- Protests erupted in multiple Israeli cities.
- The Israeli military continues operations in Gaza.
- Over 40 Hamas militants were reportedly killed over the weekend.
Jerusalem, April 20 (NationPress) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Hamas has turned down an offer to release half of the living hostages in Gaza, insisting instead on a cessation of hostilities and a withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.
"If we yield to the demands of Hamas now, all the significant victories achieved during this conflict ... will vanish," Netanyahu expressed in a recorded video message.
Furthermore, the Israeli leader dismissed the notion that Israel could trick Hamas into liberating all hostages only to resume military actions, contending that the global community would not tolerate such a tactic, as reported by the Xinhua news agency.
Earlier, the Al-Qassam Brigades, the military faction of Hamas, released a recent video featuring an Israeli hostage held in Gaza.
This four-minute clip shows Israeli hostage Elkana Bohbot speaking via a landline, seemingly urging his family to continue their efforts for his release.
"My health is deteriorating. I am pleading for death. Please, do this for me," he implored at the video’s conclusion.
The Al-Qassam Brigades capped off the video with a statement, "They will not return except in a capacity," pertaining to the hostages.
The exact timing of the video’s recording remains uncertain.
Israeli media have reported that the release of this video sparked protests in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Beersheba, and Haifa, where thousands rallied for the government to expedite the release of captives.
In the meantime, Israel’s military operations persist in Gaza. The Israel Defense Forces announced in a statement that their armored units eliminated over 40 Hamas militants in the Rafah region of the southern Gaza Strip over the weekend.
