‘A Step Away From Victory’: No Gaza Ceasefire Until Return Of Hostages, Says Israel PM

New Delhi: Just the other day, Joe Biden served Israel an ultimatum on ensuring ceasefire in Gaza. But it seems Benjamin Netanyahu has paid no heed.

Asserting that Israel was a step away from victory in the war in Gaza, the Israeli Prime Minister on Sunday said there would be no truce until Hamas frees all hostages, reported AFP.

“We are one step away from victory. But the price we paid is painful and heartbreaking,” Netanyahu said during a Cabinet meeting to mark six months of the war that broke out on October 7 after a sudden attack on Israel by Hamas militants.

Even as truce talks with international mediators are expected to resume in Cairo, Netanyahu said: “There will be no ceasefire without the return of hostages. It just won’t happen.”

He stressed that “Israel is ready for a deal, but not ready to surrender.”

“Instead of international pressure being directed at Israel, which only causes Hamas to harden its positions, the pressure of the international community should be directed against Hamas. This will advance the release of the hostages,” the Israel PM stated.

Israel has been at the receiving end of global criticism over human rights issues. The killing of seven aid workers of US-based food charity World Central Kitchen in an air strike on Gaza last week made the chorus against Israel even shriller.

US President Biden has demanded an immediate ceasefire and threatened to make US support for Israel conditional on curtailing the killing of civilians and improving humanitarian conditions.

Iran has vowed to hit back at Israel after seven of its Revolutionary Guards were killed in an air strike six days ago on the consular annex of its embassy in Damascus.