Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that he believes the prospects for a partial ceasefire and hostage-release deal with Hamas are no longer possible.
In an interview with Israeli broadcaster i24, Netanyahu said the possibility of reaching a partial agreement is behind us.
He rejected accusations from opposition figures and former senior military officials that he was dragging his feet in the war, saying the goal remains to end the conflict, defeat Hamas and secure the release of all hostages as part of a single final agreement on our terms.
On Sunday, Netanyahu said Israel plans to extend its military campaign beyond Gaza City into the last areas outside its control, where most of the enclave’s roughly 2 million residents have taken refuge amid worsening humanitarian conditions.
