Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced he was rejecting an extended ceasefire deal that would essentially see a large number of Palestinian terrorists freed from Israel's custody.
He told students at a pre-military academy in the West Bank on Tuesday: "We will not remove the IDF from the Gaza Strip and we will not release thousands of terrorists. None of this will happen. What will happen? Absolute victory!"
Multiple media sources reported that Israel did agree to a proposal involving the release of Israeli hostages, aid to Gazan civilians, and "phased pauses" in the counteroffensive in Gaza in a meeting Sunday with the US, Qatar, and Egypt.
"The framework reportedly does not provide for a permanent ceasefire, but also does not rule one out," Times of Israel reported.
Netanyahu's office released a statement on Monday, saying, "the reports about a deal are incorrect and include [ostensible] conditions that are not acceptable to Israel."
The proposal reportedly included a 45-day pause in fighting in exchange for 35-40 hostages, but would also see 100-250 Palestinian prisoners released for each hostage.
Netanyahu pledged that Israel "will not end this war with less than the achievement of all its goals. This means the elimination of Hamas, the return of all our hostages, and the promise that Gaza will no longer pose a threat to Israel."
"This is not another round, not another exchange of strikes, not another operation – [but rather] a complete victory,” he continued. “Nothing less than that. I am committed to it, our fighters are committed to it, and the absolute majority of the people are committed to it. We will not settle for less than total victory."
