Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has asserted that he will not end the war in Gaza at this time, despite renewed ceasefire efforts. Speaking at a press conference in Jerusalem on Monday, 14 months into the conflict with Hamas, Netanyahu warned, “If we end the war now, Hamas will return, recover, rebuild and attack us again—and that is something we do not want to return to.”

Netanyahu emphasized that his ultimate objective remains “the annihilation of Hamas and the elimination of its military and administrative capabilities” to ensure long-term security. However, he admitted that the mission is still incomplete.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken previously noted on October 23 that Israel had “dismantled Hamas’s military capacity” and targeted its senior leadership. Blinken also highlighted the importance of securing the release of hostages and achieving a stable end to the war.

In recent days, there have been renewed attempts to revive ceasefire and hostage negotiations, with Qatar playing a key mediation role. Reports suggest that the election of Donald Trump in the United States has contributed to a new momentum in peace discussions.

According to a source close to Hamas, Turkey, Egypt, and Qatar are actively involved in facilitating peace talks, with prospects of a new round of discussions emerging soon. Meanwhile, Netanyahu has met with the families of hostages held in Gaza, reiterating that Israel’s military engagements with Hamas and Hezbollah could pave the way for negotiations.

Despite these efforts, protests from families of hostages and other citizens are growing. Relatives accuse Netanyahu of prolonging the war and call for a ceasefire to prioritize the release of captives.

The war began following Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which killed 1,208 people—predominantly civilians, according to AFP data. During the attack, 251 hostages were taken, with 96 still being held in Gaza, including 34 confirmed dead by the Israeli military.

In response, Israel launched a retaliatory offensive that has resulted in at least 44,758 deaths in Gaza, most of whom are civilians, as per data from the Hamas-run health ministry, which has been deemed credible by the United Nations.