Netanyahu says he won’t cave to pressure amid criticism over hostage crisis

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday he will not yield to any pressure to abandon his key demand for Israeli troops to remain in the Philadelphi Corridor along the Gaza-Egypt border, a point that appears to be obstructing a ceasefire-for-hostages deal.

“It simply won’t happen,” Netanyahu declared defiantly during a press conference broadcast live. He called the area Hamas’ “pipeline for oxygen and rearmament.”

This statement comes 24 hours after widespread protests across Israel in response to the murder of six Israeli hostages in Gaza and amid President Joe Biden’s comments Monday morning suggesting Netanyahu wasn’t doing enough to secure a hostage deal.

“After this horrible murder, I don’t believe anyone serious would come and propose more concessions,” Netanyahu said. “Now after this, we’re asked to show seriousness? We are asked to make concessions?

“I don’t believe that either President Biden, or anyone serious about achieving peace and achieving the release of the hostages would seriously ask Israel to make these concessions,” Netanyahu added.” We’ve already made them.”

The Israeli military said that Israeli-American hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin and five others were likely killed early Friday morning after having survived nearly 11 months in captivity. Their deaths coincided with the timing of Netanyahu’s security cabinet’s vote to insist that Israeli troops remain in the Philadelphi Corridor as a condition for any ceasefire deal, a stance that Hamas has rejected and some Israeli security experts – including his defense minister, Yoav Gallant — deem unnecessary.

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Speaking to reporters as he arrived at the White House for a national security meeting, Biden said that he is “very close” to presenting a final hostage-release proposal. “We’re going to continue to push as hard as we can.”

Vice President Kamala Harris, who attended the meeting with U.S. negotiators in the Situation Room, posted on X , “It is long past time for a ceasefire and hostage deal. We need to bring the hostages home and end the suffering in Gaza.”

At the start of his remarks, Netanyahu repeated the apology he gave to the families of some of the six hostages. “I told the families, and I repeat it here tonight,” he said, “I ask for your forgiveness that we did not succeed in bringing them back alive.”

“Israel will not let this massacre simply pass on by,” Netanyahu added. “Hamas will pay a very heavy price for it.”

A snap poll of Jewish Israelis published by the Jewish People Policy Institute on Monday showed that a plurality — 49% — agree with Netanyahu’s position not to relinquish control of the Philadelphi Corridor even at the expense of a hostage deal. Among Netanyahu’s right-wing supporters, this stance garners overwhelming backing  — 85% in favor.

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