Netanyahu announces reinforcement of the pressure on Hamas

The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced a further reinforcement of the attacks on the Islamist Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Only the combination of military and diplomatic pressure can bring the hostages back, he said at the beginning of the weekly cabinet session in Jerusalem. Israel and Hamas negotiate indirect conversations about a new ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. However, it is still controversial how many hostages should be released.

« The military pressure works, » said Netanyahu. « On the one hand, he crushes the military and government skills of Hamas and on the other hand he creates the conditions for the release of our hostages. » On Saturday evening, the security cabinet decided to reinforce the already high pressure on Hamas. Relatives of the hostages had repeatedly warned, the new beginning of the war endangered the life of their loved ones.

Netanyahu records on Trump’s controversial Gaza plan

Negotiations under fire are currently being carried out on a new ceasefire, said Netanyahu. If Hamas lay down its weapons, the leaders could leave the Gaza strip. « We will ensure the general security in the Gaza Strip and enable the Trump plan to implement the plan of a voluntary emigration, » said Netanyahu further.

US President Donald Trump had proposed to move two million Palestinians from the coastal strip. According to Trump’s will, the residents of the region devastated by the war are to be accommodated in other Arab countries in the region. The project had met with a strong rejection for Arab states and also internationally.

Netanyahu also plans to travel to Hungary on Wednesday and to meet an counterpart Viktor Orbán. It is the first trip to Netanyahus to Europe since the International Criminal Court (ICC) imposed an arrest warrant against him last November due to the procedure in the Gaza War. The return trip is planned on Sunday.