Netanyahu Dismisses Reports of Nearly-Done Ceasefire to Release Hostages During Fox & Friends Appearance: ‘No Deal In the Making’
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed reports of an imminent ceasefire deal as “inaccurate” during a Thursday appearance on Fox & Friends.
Fox & Friends co-host Brian Kilmeade asked Netanyahu about reports that a ceasefire deal with Hamas is “90%” done, and Netanyahu called them as a “false narrative.”
“It’s exactly inaccurate. There’s a story, a narrative out there that there’s a deal out there. In fact, while we agreed in July and in May and in August to a deal, an American proposal, Hamas has consistently said no to every one of them. They don’t agree to anything,” Netanyahu said.
The prime minister added that any reports claiming that control of the Philadelphi Corridor, which runs the border between Gaza and Egypt, is holding up the deal are also false. Netanyahu said the area contains massive tunnels that Hamas used to rearm and resupply and Israel must remain in control of the strip of land for their own safety.
He said Israel is especially unwilling to make “concessions” following Hamas murdering six hostages. The victims were some of hundreds the terror group kidnapped on Oct. 7 when they attacked Israel and killed more than 1,000 people. Israel’s strikes in Gaza have earned their own criticism as they’ve led to thousands of civilian deaths.
President Joe Biden accused Netanyahu this week of not doing enough to bring the remaining hostages home.
“To ask Israel to make concessions after this murder is to send a message to Hamas: murder more hostages, you’ll get more concessions. That’s the wrong thing to do,” Netanyahu said.
The prime minister made clear there is no deal in the works for a ceasefire with Hamas, but said Israel would “push” Hamas to the point where they will make a deal.
“There is not a deal in the making unfortunately. It still hasn’t happened. They want to reconstitute their terror kingdom. Unfortunately, it’s not close, but we’ll do everything we can to get them to the point where they do make a deal,” he said.
Watch above via Fox News.
