Netanyahu Signals Openness to Cease-Fire but Wants Option to Resume Fighting

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu showed cautious support for an initiative by President Biden to end the war in Gaza, with the Israeli leader saying on Monday that he is open to a temporary cease-fire to release hostages but wants a free hand to resume fighting Hamas.

Netanyahu’s position raises questions about whether an agreement can be reached. Hamas has said the two sides must agree to end the fighting now and is pushing for written guarantees that Israel won’t restart after an initial pause.

The Israeli leader told lawmakers in private remarks at the Israeli parliament that the wording in Israel’s current proposal for a temporary cease-fire to free hostages allows it to renew hostilities should later-stage talks about a permanent truce fail to progress, according to an Israeli official.

Netanyahu told the lawmakers that during later negotiations for a permanent cease-fire he would insist on freeing all the hostages and destroying the military and governance capabilities of Hamas, according to the official. Those demands are likely to be nonstarters for Hamas, a U.S.-designated terrorist organization. 

“The proposal allows Israel to preserve the right to renew fighting at any time Israel senses that the negotiations are futile,” the Israeli official said.