Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that there is not a deal for a ceasefire between the Jewish State and Hamas to free hostages held by the terrorists, but that it is being worked on.
Netanyahu pinned the lack of progress on Hamas‘s “delusional claims” during the negotiating process, while speaking on CBS News’s Face the Nation on Sunday.
“We want it. I want it. We want to liberate the remaining hostages. We’ve already brought half of them back, and I appreciate the combined effort of Israel and the United States to bring back the remaining hostages. I can’t tell you if we’ll have it,” Netanyahu said.
“If Hamas goes down from its delusional claims and brings them down to Earth, then we’ll have the progress that we all want,” he added.
The Israeli prime minister also said that Hamas’s demands in the negotiating process are “on another planet” but said if they will come to a “reasonable situation” then a deal can be made.
A ceasefire deal in exchange for the release of hostages was offered by American, Egyptian, and Qatari officials on Friday in Paris, amid talks seeking the release of the hostages from Hamas terrorists. The proposal offered on Friday would release 40 hostages in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.
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Netanyahu said that total victory is necessary for peace and for Israel; he also added that victory is “within reach,” and if a deal is made it would only delay their win in the war against Hamas.
“If we have a deal, it will be delayed somewhat, but it will happen. If we don’t have a deal, we’ll do it anyway. It has to be done because total victory is our goal, and total victory is within reach. Not months away, weeks away, once we begin the operation [in Rafah],” Netanyahu said.