By Muhammad Mamman
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has insisted that the war in Gaza will only end once Hamas leaders are eliminated, declaring them the main obstacle to a ceasefire and the release of Israeli hostages.
“The Hamas chiefs living comfortably in Qatar don’t care about the people of Gaza. They’ve blocked every ceasefire initiative in order to prolong the war endlessly,” Netanyahu said in a post on X. “Removing them would clear the biggest hurdle to freeing our hostages and ending this war.”
His remarks came just hours before senior US diplomat Marco Rubio’s arrival in Israel. Speaking to reporters, Rubio confirmed that Washington remained committed to its alliance with Israel despite unease in Washington over the Israeli strike on Hamas officials in Qatar.
“It’s not going to alter the nature of our relationship,” Rubio said, though he acknowledged the need to assess its impact on efforts to secure a truce.
Escalating Offensive in Gaza
Israel has intensified its campaign in recent days, ordering evacuations and demolishing high-rise buildings it claims Hamas uses as bases, as it seeks to take control of Gaza City. Thousands have fled, yet the UN estimates around one million people remain trapped in the city and its outskirts, where famine has been declared amid restrictions on aid.
“Bombing happens here too — the south isn’t safe either,” said Bakri Diab, a father of four who fled Gaza City. “All they’ve done is force people into overcrowded shelters with no services and no safety.”
Gaza’s civil defence agency reported 32 people killed in Israeli strikes on Saturday, although AFP has been unable to independently verify the figures.
Growing International Pressure
Netanyahu’s government has faced mounting criticism as the war nears its second anniversary. On Friday, the UN General Assembly backed renewed support for a two-state solution, directly challenging Israel’s opposition.
Key allies including Britain, France and Germany have called for an immediate halt to Israel’s offensive, with London and Paris preparing to formally recognise Palestinian statehood in protest at Israel’s handling of the war.
Despite this, Israel retains firm backing from Washington. State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott stressed that Rubio’s visit would reaffirm “our commitment to counter anti-Israel actions, including unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state that rewards Hamas terrorism”.
Inside Israel, families of hostages have accused Netanyahu of obstructing ceasefire efforts. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum described him as the “one obstacle” preventing a deal.
Of the 251 people abducted during Hamas’s 7 October 2023 attack, 47 remain in Gaza, including 25 confirmed dead by the Israeli military.
The conflict, triggered by Hamas’s assault on Israel which killed 1,219 people, mostly civilians, has since claimed at least 64,803 lives in Gaza, also predominantly civilians, according to the territory’s health ministry.
As Netanyahu prepares to host Rubio in Jerusalem on Sunday, critics warn of a dangerous stalemate.
“There’s an alarming passivity in moving towards a ceasefire,” said Brian Katulis of the Middle East Institute, adding that US policy is being shaped more by domestic political alliances than regional consensus.
