On Friday, the American Fox News network quoted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as saying that the fighting against Hamas in Gaza will continue, even if it will include safe passage for civilians away from the fighting sites, considering that the ceasefire will be a surrender to the movement.

Netanyahu said, according to the network, “In specific locations, and for a specific period, a few hours here, a few hours there, we want to facilitate safe passage for civilians away from combat zones, and we are doing this.” Earlier today, the American CNN network quoted US President Joe Biden as telling journalists that he had asked Netanyahu for a humanitarian truce for more than three days.

However, the Israeli Prime Minister told Fox News that he did not agree with the US administration on everything, saying that “one of the things we did not agree on was a ceasefire.” He added, "A ceasefire with Hamas means surrender to it... and therefore there will be no ceasefire without the release of the hostages." He continued, "We do not want to seek to rule Gaza. We do not want to seek occupation, but we seek to give it and us a better future in the entire Middle East. This requires defeating Hamas. I set goals, but I did not set a timetable for achieving them, because as you know, it may take longer." .

According to CNN, Biden expressed optimism about the release of more than 200 detainees held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, including Americans, saying, “We are optimistic; things are moving forward.” Biden downplayed concerns about whether Netanyahu was listening to the United States, but said, according to the network, that the process “took a little longer than I had hoped.”

Yesterday, Thursday, the Times of Israel newspaper quoted a high-ranking Israeli official as saying that Israel had agreed to a “tactical” truce. The Israeli official stated that the truces mean expanding humanitarian corridors that were recently identified to allow Gazans to move from the north of the Gaza Strip to its south, away from areas where fighting is raging.

The official added that these truces will be imposed for four hours in a different neighborhood in northern Gaza each day, with residents notified three hours before the scheduled time. According to the official, residents will be able to use this time to either head south through the two humanitarian corridors established by Israel, or leave their homes in order to obtain food, medicine, and other aid.

However, Taher Al-Nono, media advisor to the head of the political bureau of the Hamas movement, denied reaching a truce agreement with Israel. Al-Nono said in a statement, “Talks are continuing regarding the truce, and no agreement has been reached at this moment.”

Earlier today, the American CNN television network quoted White House spokesman John Kirby as saying that Israel will begin implementing a four-hour cessation of military operations in the northern Gaza areas daily.

Israel continues its attacks and ground operations in the Gaza Strip since Hamas and other factions launched a surprise attack on Israeli towns and camps adjacent to the Gaza Strip on October 7th.

Alsharq Alawsat