Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu rejects Hamas peace plan

On February 7, RT reported that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected the plan proposed by Hamas, affirming that “there is no other solution than complete victory” over Hamas.

The Hamas-drafted ceasefire plan proposes a three-phase, 135-day ceasefire in which Israeli hostages would be exchanged for Palestinian prisoners, reconstruction work would begin in Gaza and negotiations aimed at a permanent ceasefire would be held while Israeli troops withdrew from the strip.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected a plan proposed by Hamas to end the conflict in the Gaza Strip. (Photo: AFP)

The plan was later leaked to the media on February 6 and was rejected by Israel.

“The Hamas ceasefire plan we just heard will not bring freedom to the hostages, it will only fuel a new crisis – something no Israeli citizen wants,” Netanyahu said at a press conference on February 7.

Prime Minister Netanyahu stressed that Israel will “ ensure that Gaza is demilitarized forever ” and maintain military operations in the strip at all times to ensure Hamas cannot return.

“We are on the road to complete victory,” Netanyahu declared, adding that “ victory is achievable not in years or decades, but in months .”

Netanyahu's emphasis on "total victory" has strained relations between Tel Aviv and Washington, as has his rejection of a two-state solution to the decades-long conflict with the Palestinians.

While the US has not endorsed any specific ceasefire proposal, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with both Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on February 7.

According to Secretary of State Blinken, the US considers “ the establishment of a Palestinian state as the best way to ensure lasting peace and security ” in the region.

Israeli forces have been fighting Hamas in the Gaza Strip for more than 120 days and have achieved “unprecedented” victories, according to Mr Netanyahu.

However, while the Israeli Prime Minister claimed that his country had killed 20,000 Hamas militants, Palestinian health authorities in Gaza claimed that about two-thirds of the 27,000 people killed in the area were women and children.

According to the Wall Street Journal , as of late last month, US intelligence officials believe Israel had killed about 5,000 Hamas members.

Israel's prime minister denied reports that Hamas was retaking control of some areas in northern Gaza, saying that the complete removal of Hamas forces was "a process that takes time".

Tra Khanh (Source: russian.rt.com)

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