Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu affirmed on Sunday that Israel would not accept a deal at any cost to release hostages held by Hamas, amidst tensions within his coalition over the U.S. push for increased aid to Gaza. The remarks surfaced amid an ongoing dispute within the coalition between religious nationalist parties opposing concessions to Palestinians and a centrist faction inclusive of former army generals.
“The efforts to free the hostages are continuing at all times,” Netanyahu stated before a cabinet meeting. “As I also emphasized in the Security Cabinet – we will not agree to every deal, and not at any price.”
Netanyahu seemed to address criticism from his National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, who advocated for Jewish settlers to return to Gaza and criticized U.S. President Joe Biden for supporting humanitarian aid deliveries to the region. Netanyahu rejected the criticism without directly naming Ben-Gvir, maintaining Israel’s autonomy in diplomatic relations.
The political discord unveils the fragility of Israel’s coalition, especially four months after a devastating attack by Hamas that claimed lives and left many as hostages. Amidst this, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken heads to the region, emphasizing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the need for aid.
