Hamas Says No Hostage Negotiations Except Israel Ends Operations In Gaza, PM Netanyahu: Surrender Or Die

The release of two Israeli hostages by Hamas (Screenshot of the military wing video Hamas Brigade Al-Qassam via Anadolu)

JAKARTA - Israel on Thursday firmly rejected Hamas' request to stop the fighting permanently, before returning to negotiations over the release of hostages that had been carried out in a ceasefire over the past week last November.

Israel has repeatedly rejected Hamas' proposal on a total ceasefire and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Gaza Strip, as a condition to continue negotiations on the exchange of hostages.

"We are fighting to victory. We will not stop the war until we reach all its goals, complete the destruction of Hamas, and release all of our hostages," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.

"The choice is very simple: surrender or die. They have no and will have no other choice," he said.

He added, "after we destroy Hamas, I will work with all my might to ensure Gaza is no longer a threat to Israel."

Meanwhile, a senior Israeli official told reporters there were currently no active negotiations for a new hostage release agreement with Hamas. However, he noted Israeli officials had met twice this week with Qatari officials to discuss a new framework for the agreement.

"We are explaining to everyone in Israel and outside Israel, this is the time to update the new hostage structure," the official said in an unrecorded press conference.

He said the previous hostage deal, the release of 105 people, went well and Israel was ready to discuss the new stages of the release of hostages to repatriate about 129 people who are still being held hostage.

As previously reported, Hamas will not approve any talks regarding the prisoner swap until Israel ends its military operations in Gaza, the group said on Thursday.

"There is a Palestinian national decision that there should be no talk of detainees or exchange deals, except after the complete cessation of aggression," Hamas said in a statement, claiming to speak on behalf of all Palestinians.

Meanwhile, senior Hamas official Ghazi Hamad indicated to Al Jazeera the militant group was not interested in releasing the hostages in exchange for weeks of pause, as Israel would continue the war afterward.

"Some people are looking for short breaks, pauses here and there for one week, two weeks, three weeks. But we want to stop the aggression (fully)," said Hamad.

"Because I think Israel will take over the role of the hostages, and after that they will start a new chapter of mass killings and massacres against our people. I don't think we will play this game," said Hamad.