Benjamin Netanyahu has been accused of sabotaging Gaza ceasefire negotiations after he repeated his demand for the war to continue until Hamas was completely removed from the territory.

Rumours over an imminent ceasefire have circulated again in recent weeks, with both Hamas and Israeli officials saying that they were closer than ever to a deal that would end the conflict, free Israeli hostages and release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.

However, Israel’s prime minister told The Wall Street Journal: “I’m not going to agree to end the war before we remove Hamas. We’re not going to leave them in power in Gaza, 30 miles from Tel Aviv. It’s not going to happen.”

Yair Lapid, Israel’s opposition leader, told Army Radio on Monday: “Netanyahu doesn’t want a deal because of his politics.

“He’s doing the same trick he’s done before; the negotiations are progressing and becoming possible – and then he goes to the foreign media and explains that he won’t stop the war and signals to Hamas that there’s no reason to make an agreement with him.”