The prime minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu rejected “categorically” Hamas’s conditions for ending the war and freeing the hostages, following the release of a Palestinian organization report on the October 7 attack.

“In exchange for the release of our hostages, the Hamas calls for an end to the war, the withdrawal of our forces from Gaza, the release of all murderers and rapists. And let Hamas remain intact,” the Israeli prime minister said in his statement.

“I categorically reject the terms of the capitulation of the monsters of Hamas,” he added.

The agreement reached in late November brokered by the US, Qatar and Egypt allowed the release of about 100 of the 240 hostages held by Hamas in Gauze. After the cease-fire period ended, Netanyahu is under increasing pressure to secure the release of the remaining 136 hostages.

In today’s announcement, Netanyahu adopts a tougher line, compared to the past, on the issue of the Palestinian state.

“I will not compromise on full Israeli security control for all territories west of the Jordan River,” he said.

US President Joe Biden said on Friday that he had spoken with Netanyahu about possible solutions to the creation of an independent Palestinian state, hinting that it could be demilitarized. On Saturday, Netanyahu appeared to reject Biden’s proposals and in his announcement today reiterated that he will insist on having the Israel “control of security in all lands west of the Jordan”. He said he faced “international and domestic pressure” to change his stance but “it was his persistence that prevented for years the establishment of a Palestinian state which would constitute an existential threat to Israel”.