Netanyahu refutes progress on hostage agreement with Hamas
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has made clear his stance regarding a ceasefire and hostage agreement with Hamas. In an interview with Fox News, Netanyahu firmly denied reports of progress, stating, “There’s not a deal in the making. Unfortunately, it’s not close.”
He directly contradicted claims by CNN and other outlets that suggested the U.S. administration believed an agreement was 90% complete. “It’s exactly inaccurate,” Netanyahu emphasized. “There’s a story, a narrative out there, that there’s a deal, but Hamas has not agreed to anything—not to the Philadelphi Corridor, nor to exchanging hostages for jailed terrorists.”
Netanyahu has come under increasing criticism, with accusations that he has deliberately blocked a potential deal with Hamas. The Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth, citing a document it obtained, reported that Netanyahu derailed a potential draft agreement in July by introducing numerous last-minute demands.
While various media outlets have reported on Netanyahu’s eleventh-hour demands, Yedioth Ahronoth is the first to publish the full document. In response to these reports, Netanyahu rejected claims of obstruction, blaming Hamas for the stalemate. “The obstacle to ending this war is Hamas,” he said. “The obstacle to releasing hostages is Hamas.”
Netanyahu also addressed reports that families of American hostages held by Hamas are urging the U.S. government to act independently for their release. “I don’t know,” Netanyahu said. “I don’t judge the families. They’re going through enormous anguish.”
Meanwhile, Hamas has accused Netanyahu of stalling negotiations. Khalil Al-Hayya, head of Hamas’ negotiating team, released a statement on Telegram accusing Netanyahu of employing “evasions and deceptive maneuvers” to avoid reaching an agreement.
Al-Hayya stated that any potential agreement must include “a comprehensive cessation of aggression against our Palestinian people, a complete withdrawal from Gaza including the Philadelphi Axis, the right of return for the displaced, and reconstruction efforts.”
These demands, along with a prisoner exchange, remain central to Hamas’ position in the ongoing negotiations.
Credit: CNN
