PM Netanyahu Claims Israel Is Ready For A Battle Break In Gaza, But Will Still Kill Hamas

JAKARTA - Prime Minister Benjamian Netanyahu said Israel was ready for a temporary pause in fighting in the Gaza Strip, Palestine, but insisted it would still kill the militant group Hamas.

PM Netanyahu told Channel 14, the pause was a partial agreement in exchange for the return of a number of hostages detained by Hamas.

However, PM Netanyahu said he would not end the war after the end of the high-intensity phase of the conflict, not leaving Hamas in Gaza.

"No. I'm not ready to end the war and let Hamas stay in place. I'm ready to make a partial deal, it's no secret anymore, which will bring some people back to us," he said.

"However, we are obliged to continue the battle after the break to complete our goal of destroying Hamas. I am not ready to give up," he said.

Israel's ground and airstrikes in Gaza were triggered by an attack by a militant group led by Hamas into Israel's southern region on October 7, killing about 1,200 people and holding more than 250 people hostage, according to an Israeli tally.

Separately, health authorities in Gaza announced on Sunday that the death toll of Palestinian civilians as a result of Israeli attacks in the region had reached 37,598 people and injured 86,032 people.