Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected Hamas’ proposal for a four-and-a-half month cease-fire and the release of all hostages, instead insisting on total victory over Hamas, he said at a press conference Wednesday.
Netanyahu said Wednesday a “total victory” is possible for Israel and that negotiations with Hamas were “not going anywhere,” the BBC reported.
“There is no other solution but a complete and final victory,” he said at the press conference, according to the BBC.
In response to a cease-fire proposal from Israel, Hamas counter-proposed the four-and-a-half month cease-fire during which it would return all hostages being held in Gaza and proceed to negotiate an agreement to end the war, Reuters reported.
Netanyahu’s comments came after he met with Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who said Wednesday that “there is a lot of work to be done” on a hostage negotiation, CNN reported.