Netanyahu Rejects Hamas Demands, Calls for Military Intensification
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday instructed the military to ramp up operations in Gaza after Hamas dismissed Israel’s proposal for another temporary ceasefire. In a late-night televised address, Netanyahu emphasized that, despite the cost, Israel “has no choice but to continue fighting for our very existence, until victory.”
Hamas officials rejected a short-term truce this week, insisting they will only release the remaining 59 hostages in exchange for a comprehensive deal to end the war and rebuild Gaza. Earlier on Saturday, the group said it had recovered the body of a guard holding US dual‑national soldier Edan Alexander—who is believed to be the last American citizen alive in Gaza—but Hamas offered no update on Alexander’s condition.
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Since Israel walked away from the January ceasefire after seeking its extension, the military has pounded the enclave with air strikes. Palestinian health authorities reported at least 50 fatalities on Saturday alone, bringing the two‑day toll to 92. The offensive has seized significant territory and prompted orders for hundreds of thousands of Gazans to evacuate what Israel describes as “combat zones.”
Netanyahu also reaffirmed his commitment to preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, following indirect US‑Iran talks in Oman aimed at drafting a new framework agreement. He pledged to sustain pressure on Tehran’s nuclear program “while we wage this war on our southern border.”
