Netanyahu and Haniyeh have traded accusations following an Israeli cabinet meeting on Sunday, in which Israeli’s ban on Al Jazeera was announced. Meanwhile, protestors marched in Jerusalem calling for a Rafah invasion.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday, during a government cabinet meeting, that accepting Hamas’s demand to end the war in Gaza in order to reach a hostage release deal would be a “terrible defeat” for Israel.
“Surrendering to the demands of Hamas would be a terrible defeat for Israel. It will be a huge victory for Hamas, for Iran, for the entire axis of evil,” he said at a cabinet meeting.
“Therefore, Israel will not agree to Hamas’s demands, and will continue the fighting until all its goals are achieved.”
Netanyahu placed the blame for the failure of the Cairo negotiations so far at the feet of Hamas, saying, “While Israel has shown willingness, Hamas remains entrenched in its extreme positions, first among them the demand to remove all our forces from the Gaza Strip, end the war, and leave Hamas in power. Israel cannot accept that.”
Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh has said in a statement that they are “still interested in reaching an agreement that will end the war, guarantee the withdrawal of the Israeli army from the Gaza Strip, and [include] a serious prisoner exchange deal.”
He claimed that Hamas has shown flexibility in its negotiation positions, but that their starting point has always been the end of the war.
Haniyeh blamed Benjamin Netanyahu for “the continuation of the aggression and the expansion of the circle of conflict, and sabotaging the efforts made through the mediators and various parties.”
Rival protests in Israel
As negotiations continue in Cairo over a ceasefire deal, and speculation grows about a potential breakthrough, protestors have marched through the streets of Jerusalem, calling for an invasion of Rafah.
The families of fallen soldiers and their supporters, led by a group called the Valor Forum, marched from the Knesset to the prime minister’s office, on Sunday, demanding an invasion and the elimination of Hamas.
They were joined by numerous far-right ministers of Netanyahu’s government including National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.
This follows a seperate march by the Hope Forum, on Saturday, representing some families of the October 7 hostages, which called on Netanyahu to resign if he cannot “find a way to win.”
Rocket attack on crossing
Israel has closed the Kerem Shalom crossing to aid trucks after the area came under rocket attack.
“About ten rockets were detected that crossed from near the Rafah crossing towards the Kerem Shalom area,” the Israeli Military statement on X said.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry has condemned the rocket attack near the Kerem Shalom crossing between Gaza and Israel.
The army “is facilitating humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza through the Kerem Shalom crossing, terrorists fire rockets into the same area,” a statement by the Ministry on X said.
Earlier reports said several were injured in the attack that hit an area near a military position.
