PM Benjamin Netanyahu: Gaza war won't end until Hamas destroyed

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed over X, formally Twitter, on Saturday that the war against Hamas in Gaza would continue until the terrorist organization was destroyed.

“Israel's conditions for ending the war have not changed: The destruction of Hamas military and governing capabilities, the freeing of all hostages and ensuring that Gaza no longer poses a threat to Israel,” the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) stated.

The Prime Minister's Office: Israel's conditions for ending the war have not changed: The destruction of Hamas military and governing capabilities, the freeing of all hostages and ensuring that Gaza no longer poses a threat to Israel.

— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) June 1, 2024

"Under the proposal, Israel will continue to insist these conditions are met before a permanent ceasefire is put in place," the PMO's office continued. "The notion that Israel will agree to a permanent ceasefire before these conditions are fulfilled is a non-starter."

Under the proposal, Israel will continue to insist these conditions are met before a permanent ceasefire is put in place. The notion that Israel will agree to a permanent ceasefire before these conditions are fulfilled is a non-starter.

— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) June 1, 2024

Lapid urges restraint

Later, Opposition Leader Yair Lapid,  took to X to urge the prime minister to heed US President Joe Biden's address wherein the president advocated for an Israeli-proposed hostage-ceasefire deal.

"The Israeli government cannot ignore President Biden's significant speech. There is a deal on the table and it needs to be done.

"I remind Netanyahu that he has a safety net from us for a hostage deal if Ben-Gvir and Smotrich leave the government."

ממשלת ישראל לא יכולה להתעלם מנאומו המשמעותי של הנשיא ביידן. יש עסקה על השולחן וצריך לעשות אותה. מזכיר לנתניהו שיש לו מאתנו רשת בטחון לעסקת חטופים אם בן גביר וסמוטריץ׳ יעזבו את הממשלה.

— יאיר לפיד - Yair Lapid (@yairlapid) June 1, 2024

Lapid's comments referred to a vow he made to Netanyahu in February that he would ensure the prime minister's government retained the necessary mandates to remain viable in the event that Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Ben-Gvir left the government in protest of a hostage deal.

Tal Spungin and Sam Halpern contributed to this report.