Israel will not agree to a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip until the Hamas terrorist group is destroyed, according to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
"Israel's conditions for ending the war have not changed: The destruction of Hamas military and governing capabilities, the freeing of all hostages and ensuring that Gaza no longer poses a threat to Israel," Netanyahu wrote on X.
Netanyahu made this statement after US President Joe Biden publicly spoke about Israel's proposed plan to end the war in the Gaza Strip, which provides for a complete ceasefire and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the enclave.
"Under the proposal, Israel will continue to insist these conditions are met before a permanent ceasefire is put in place. The notion that Israel will agree to a permanent ceasefire before these conditions are fulfilled is a non-starter," the statement said.
Israel's war with Hamas
Last October, Hamas militants attacked Israeli settlements from the Gaza Strip. In response, Israel launched a large-scale ground and air campaign against the militants in the Gaza Strip.
Currently, the Israeli army controls almost the entire territory of the Gaza Strip, while the second-largest city of Rafah is under siege.
On Friday, the American president made an address in which he said that Israel had proposed a three-stage plan to end the war. At the first stage, which should last 6 weeks, Israel is ready to stop hostilities and withdraw its troops from the Gaza Strip.
Biden urged both sides to agree to this plan, stressing that Hamas no longer poses a major threat to Israel.