“We are on the way to a decisive victory” in Gaza, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said at a press conference earlier today, rejecting Hamas’ proposal for a cease-fire and arguing that “there is no peace deal unless we defeat Hamas.” .

The Israeli Prime Minister asserted that the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) are working systematically and will achieve all the goals of the war, which are the release of all hostages and the elimination of Hamas, stressing that the achievements of the Israeli Army are “unprecedented” and that the “victory will be in our hands… in a few months.”

“We don’t back down until we win,” he underlined and added: “There is no other solution than our complete and decisive victory.”

As for the conversation he had with US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, Netanyahu said he made it clear to him that Israel would ensure the Gaza Strip is demilitarized forever after Hamas is eliminated.

“Not part of Hamas, not half of Hamas, but the whole of Hamas,” he stressed. The Israel Defense Forces will act “wherever and at any time necessary” in Gaza, the Israeli prime minister said.

Asked about Hamas’ demands for the release of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for Israeli hostages, Netanyahu says Israel has not committed to any of its demands.

“We haven’t committed to…really huge numbers that they’re talking about…terrorists that we have to release. “There is supposed to be some kind of negotiation process with the mediators, but from what I’ve seen after Hamas’ response, I don’t know what’s going on,” Netanyahu said.

At the same time, he called for the replacement of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, since as he said he believes that up to 60% of the humanitarian aid that goes to Gaza is received by Hamas.

The proposal of Hamas

Hamas submitted its own far-reaching proposal for a definitive end to the fighting late Tuesday through Qatari and Egyptian mediators, detailing a three-phase plan that would unfold over four and a half months.

A Hamas delegation, led by senior Hamas official Khalil Al-Hayya, will travel to Cairo on Thursday to resume ceasefire talks with Egypt and Qatar, a Hamas official said.

The plan comes in response to a proposal drawn up by the US, Israel, Qatar and Egypt that stipulates that all hostages be released in exchange for hundreds of Palestinians jailed by Israel, including senior militants, and an end to the war.