Israel’s prime minister says he “will not surrender to pressure” amid growing calls for him to strike a deal to end the conflict in Gaza.
Speaking in an address to the nation, Benjamin Netanyahu said there are “certain things we won’t compromise on” in ceasefire talks.
Mr Netanyahu said he was “fully committed” to advancing negotiations for a ceasefire but Hamas kept “refusing” any proposal.
The Israeli prime minister, who has been facing intense pressure both at home and abroad over the confirmed death of six more hostages, said Israel would not give up control of the Philadelphi corridor in Gaza, which he said is “Hamas’ lifeline”.
The corridor was critical to ensuring Gaza wouldn’t turn into a “terrorist enclave”, Mr Netanyahu said as he spoke against a backdrop of widespread protests over the failure to ensure the safe return of hostages.
Mr Netanyahu’s demand to remain in the Philadelphi corridor – along the Gazan border with Egypt – has been a major sticking point in ceasefire talks with Hamas.
The Islamic militant group is demanding a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza as part of any deal that would free the dozens of hostages it is holding in Gaza.
Some half a million people took to the streets of Israel on Sunday to express anger at the failure to secure a ceasefire and hostage release deal.
Mr Netanyahu issued an apology to the families of the hostages that Israeli forces could not return them safely as he said Israel “must stand united as one”.
He also insisted Hamas would pay a “heavy price” for their deaths.
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The protests are thought to be the largest Mr Netanyahu has faced since the war in Gaza broke out nearly 11 months ago.
Mr Netanyahu accused Hamas of killing all six hostages in “cold blood” and said Israel would hold the group accountable.
The Israeli Health Ministry said post mortem examinations had determined the hostages had been shot at close range and died on Thursday or Friday.
However, Hostage Families Forum, which organised the protests, blamed the Israeli government for the deaths, saying the hostages could have been returned alive if a deal had been struck with Hamas to end the conflict in Gaza.
“The delay in signing the deal has led to their deaths and those of many other hostages,” they said in a statement.
Read more: Who are the six Israeli hostages confirmed dead?
US President Joe Biden added to the pressure by saying Mr Netanyahu was not doing enough to reach a deal for a ceasefire and hostage release.
The outgoing US president nonetheless said a final hostage deal between Israel and Hamas was “very close”.
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It is believed 101 people kidnapped by Hamas on 7 October are still inside Gaza – 35 of which are thought to have died.
Israel has been waging a war on Gaza since Hamas’ attack 11 months ago, which saw 1,200 people murdered in southern Israel and 250 taken hostage.
The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza says at least 40,786 Palestinians have now been killed in Israeli strikes on the densely populated enclave of Gaza since the war broke out.
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