Netanyahu blames Hamas for lack of ceasefire progress, vows negotiations ‘will only be held under fire’

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the nation in a televised address on Tuesday evening, following the renewal of military operations in Gaza. 

Israel Defense Forces (IDF) attacked several targets simultaneously in Gaza at around 2:10 a.m. striking approximately 80 locations in less than 10 minutes.

On Tuesday night, the IDF confirmed the identities of four of the mid-level Hamas officials targeted, and also confirmed that they have not yet targeted any senior military leaders from the terror group. 

“Hamas is responsible for this war,” Netanyahu stated. “It invaded our towns, murdered our people, raped our women and kidnapped our loved ones.” 

Netanyahu also blamed Hamas for the lack of progress over the past few weeks. 

“Hamas refused offer after offer to release our hostages,” he claimed. 

Referring to efforts to extend the first phase of the ceasefire under the so-called Witkoff proposal, the prime minister accused Hamas of rejecting the offers, despite Israel extending the ceasefire by two weeks without an agreement. 

“In the past two weeks, Israel did not initiate any military action in the hope that Hamas would change course. Well, that didn’t happen,” Netanyahu said. “While Israel accepted the offer of President Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, Hamas flatly refused to do so.” 

He cited the lack of progress as the reason for renewing military action. 

“This is why I authorized yesterday the renewal of military action against Hamas.” 

The prime minister also responded to Hamas' claims of hundreds of civilian casualties in the airstrikes.saying, “Israel does not target Palestinian civilians. We target Hamas terrorists.” 

“When these terrorists embed themselves in civilian areas, when they use civilians as human shields, they are the ones who are responsible for all unintended casualties,” he argued. 

Netanyahu called on Palestinians in Gaza to “avoid any contact with Hamas terrorists.” He also told the people of Gaza to “get out of harm’s way. Move to safer areas. Because every civilian casualty is a tragedy and every civilian casualty is the fault of Hamas.” 

Netanyahu thanked U.S. President Donald Trump “for his unwavering support for Israel. Our alliance with the United States has never been stronger.” 

He rejected criticism of Israel’s actions in Gaza from the International community, saying, “To those who criticize Israel, I ask, what would you do if terrorists murdered and kidnapped your children? You would do what we are doing.” 

“In the face of pure evil, free societies have no choice but to fight,” Netanyahu exclaimed. 

He ended his address by promising that Israel would persist until it achieved its goals. 

“We will not relent until we achieve all these vital goals and we will not rest until we give our country a future of peace, prosperity and hope.” 

During his televised speech, the Israeli leader noted that “from now on, negotiations will be conducted only under fire.” 

Hamas stated that it did not reject the Witkoff proposal, claiming that it is only asking Israel to honor the existing hostage-ceasefire deal, under which negotiations for phase 2 were supposed to begin on Feb. 16.

As part of that proposal, Israel was also supposed to withdraw its troops from the Philadelphi Corridor by the end of phase 1 but refused, citing smuggling tunnels under the border with Egypt. 

Hamas spokesman Abdel-Latif Al-Qanoua told Reuters on Tuesday that the terror group is still in contact with mediators and is interested in completing the original deal. 

Meanwhile, the IDF appears to be ready to renew ground combat in the coming days.

On Wednesday, the military reportedly dropped leaflets in Beit Hanoun and Khan Younis, located in the northern and southern Gaza Strip, ordering residents to evacuate their homes and warning them that they were in “dangerous combat zones.”

“Staying in the shelters or the current tents puts your life and that of your family members in danger. Evacuate immediately,” read a leaflet dropped in Beit Hanoun.

Newly appointed IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir toured Rafah on Tuesday, where he examined operational preparations for renewed fighting.