Netanyahu says Israel open to Gaza talks if Hamas disarms, relinquishes control
JERUSALEM -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared on Sunday that Israel is prepared to negotiate an end to the conflict in Gaza, but only if Hamas surrenders its weapons and relinquishes control of the besieged enclave.
Speaking at the start of a weekly cabinet meeting, Netanyahu said Israel is ready to discuss a final resolution under which "Hamas leaders will be allowed to leave, we will ensure general security in the Gaza Strip, and we will enable the implementation of the Trump plan for voluntary immigration."
He said military pressure on Hamas was proving effective, weakening the group's military and governance capabilities while creating conditions for the release of Israeli hostages.
Netanyahu said the security cabinet had decided overnight to escalate military pressure, adding that "we are negotiating under fire, and therefore it is effective. We see that there are suddenly cracks."
Denying allegations that the government is not prioritizing the hostages' return, Netanyahu said, "We are working and intend to bring them back. So far, the combination of military and political pressure has been the only factor securing the release of hostages."
On Lebanon, he said the Israeli military was enforcing the ceasefire "firmly and optimally" and called on Beirut to prevent attacks from its territory.
Netanyahu also expressed support for US military action against Yemen's Houthis, saying, "We have an alliance with the greatest power in the world, and it stands behind us there and in other arenas without reservation."
Israeli forces resumed strikes in Gaza on March 18, effectively ending a ceasefire with Hamas that had been in place since January 19.
On Friday, Israel carried out an airstrike on Beirut, its first since signing a ceasefire with Hezbollah in November.
The escalation has raised concerns of wider regional instability, prompting the international community to condemn the violence and call for restraint.
