Israeli pm rejects Biden’s roadmap, doubles down on harsh demands
In a defiant stance against US efforts to broker a ceasefire, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared on Saturday that the destruction of Hamas’s military and governing capabilities is a non-negotiable condition for ending the devastating war on Gaza.
Netanyahu’s uncompromising statement came just a day after US President Joe Biden revealed that Israel had proposed a new roadmap towards a permanent ceasefire. The roadmap, according to Biden, included the release of captives held by Hamas in Gaza, the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the besieged enclave, and an exchange of prisoners between the two sides.
However, the Israeli premier swiftly rejected the proposed deal, asserting that Israel’s conditions for ending the conflict remain unchanged and non-negotiable.
“Israel’s conditions for ending the war have not changed: The destruction of Hamas military and governing capabilities, the freeing of all hostages and ensuring that Gaza no longer poses a threat to Israel,” Netanyahu said in a televised address to the nation.
“Israel will continue to insist these conditions are met before a permanent ceasefire is put in place. The notion that Israel will agree to a permanent ceasefire before these conditions are fulfilled is a non-starter,” he added, doubling down on his government’s hardline stance.
Netanyahu’s intransigent position has drawn sharp criticism from Palestinian officials and human rights advocates, who have accused Israel of pursuing a scorched-earth policy in Gaza and showing blatant disregard for civilian lives.
“Netanyahu’s insistence on the destruction of Hamas is tantamount to a call for the annihilation of the entire Gaza Strip,” said Hanan Ashrawi, a veteran Palestinian politician and former member of the Palestinian Legislative Council.
“This is not only a war crime but a crime against humanity, and it shows the Israeli government’s utter disregard for international law and basic human rights,” she added.
The ongoing Israeli assault on Gaza, now in its fourth week, has claimed the lives of over 230 Palestinians, including 65 children, according to the latest figures from the Palestinian Ministry of Health. Thousands more have been injured, and entire residential neighborhoods have been reduced to rubble by Israeli airstrikes and artillery shelling.
Human rights groups have accused Israel of indiscriminate attacks on civilian areas and the use of disproportionate force, allegations that Israeli officials have vehemently denied.
“Our operations are strictly targeted at Hamas’s terrorist infrastructure and their weapons caches,” said an Israeli military spokesperson, who spoke on condition of anonymity. “We take every precaution to avoid civilian casualties, but Hamas’s cowardly tactic of using civilians as human shields makes such casualties unavoidable.”
The spokesperson also defended Netanyahu’s demand for the destruction of Hamas, labeling the group a “terrorist organization hell-bent on Israel’s destruction.”
However, critics argue that such rhetoric is part of a broader effort to dehumanize Palestinians and justify the collective punishment of the besieged population in Gaza.
“Netanyahu’s language is not only inflammatory but also dangerous,” said Mustafa Barghouti, a prominent Palestinian politician and activist. “By equating Hamas with the entire population of Gaza, he is essentially giving a green light for the massacre of innocent civilians.”
As the death toll continues to rise and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza deepens, international pressure is mounting on both sides to accept an immediate ceasefire and return to the negotiating table.
However, with Netanyahu adamant on his uncompromising demands and Hamas vowing to continue its resistance, the prospects for a peaceful resolution to the conflict appear increasingly dim.
“The world cannot stand idly by while this senseless slaughter continues,” said Ashrawi. “If Israel and Hamas refuse to heed the calls for a ceasefire, the international community must take decisive action to protect the Palestinian people and hold those responsible for war crimes accountable.”
