Netanyahu: At the beginning of the ceasefire – we will enter negotiations on ending the war
Just before the end of his visit to Washington, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed criticism of the contacts for a hostage deal and presented the minimum conditions for ending the war: "If this is not achieved in negotiations within 60 days, we will achieve it through other means."
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"This is the last day of a historic visit after the historic victory in the war against Iran. What was agreed between President Trump and me, regarding issues related to Gaza, the region and even beyond the region, will be told later," he said. "I want to open this day by sending heartfelt condolences on behalf of myself and my wife to the family of the murder victim in Gush Etzion. We have very great achievements in the fight against terrorism, both in Judea and Samaria and in the area, but there are also painful prices. I ask to also send on your behalf a brave embrace from the depths of the heart to the family of the murder victim. May God avenge his blood."
"Yesterday I met with families of hostages whom I invited, both of dead hostages and living hostages. I invited them here to be present at the conclusion of the visit, because this doesn't end the matter," he added. "We are determined to bring them all back. I told them this. I told them that we are currently trying to achieve the release of half of the living hostages and the dead, in exchange for a temporary 60-day ceasefire. At the beginning of this ceasefire, we enter permanent negotiations on ending the war. That is, a permanent ceasefire."
However, Netanyahu clarified that "in order to achieve this, this must be done under the minimum conditions we have set: Hamas lays down its weapons, Gaza is demilitarized, Hamas no longer has governmental or military capabilities. These are our basic conditions. If this can be achieved through negotiations – good. If this is not achieved through negotiations within 60 days, we will achieve it through other means; by applying force, the force of our heroic army. We said the same thing regarding Iran, removing the nuclear threat. If this is achieved within 60 days of negotiations between the United States and Iran, good. But if this is not achieved, it will be achieved another way."
"We dismantled most of Hamas's military capabilities – but not all of them"
The Prime Minister continued and addressed criticism of the continued fighting as well as the hostage deal: "I hear the questions arising from the public, from the fighters, from the reservists, 'why is this taking so long?' First, this is a battlefield that no army in the world has faced. And thanks to the heroism of the fighters, thanks to the sacrifice of the fallen, thanks to the tactics, we dismantled most of Hamas's military capabilities. But not all of them, there are still thousands of fighters with weapons there. And we want to act, again, with a combination of diplomacy and military force, if diplomacy doesn't work, to complete the mission."
He also claimed that "we also had an American embargo – 'don't enter Rafah,' 'don't conquer Philadelphi,' these are not easy things. We overcame that too, and now we want to complete the move. And I remind you – during the month, the recent months, in which we are preparing and finally executing what is perhaps the most brilliant military operation in our history, among the most brilliant certainly, that the whole world is amazed by. During this we continue to advance in the Gaza Strip and extract dead hostages, during this – not letting up for a moment, and even now not letting up for a moment."
"They told us 'don't return to war.' After the first ceasefire agreement, we returned. They told us 'don't return to fight,' after the second ceasefire, we returned. They say 'don't return to fight,' after a third ceasefire, do you want me to add more?" Netanyahu recalled. "I think we have demonstrated the determination, the strength and the commitment to achieving all our goals. Again, if the demilitarization and elimination of Hamas's capabilities is achieved, if these things are achieved through negotiation, good. But one way or another they will be achieved."
"I hear the questions about who will determine the order of those released. First of all, let there be releases. But to this day, I say this, we are dealing with a cruel terrorist organization. We of course would like to extract them all, and from our perspective they are all humanitarian. I want to extract them all in one blow," he concluded. "Here we are dealing with two stages, but the choice is not always in our hands. We will do everything to maximize this release in the optimal way. Not everything is in our hands."