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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed to the Knesset on Monday that Israel had made significant progress in efforts to free hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip. He attributed this progress to military pressure from Israel and the confirmed death of Yahya Sinwar, one of Hamas' strategic leaders.
“Progress, but no deadline yet”
Addressing parliamentarians, Netanyahu insisted on remaining cautious. “We are taking meaningful steps through all channels to bring back our loved ones. I can cautiously tell you that there is progress, but I cannot give a precise timetable,” he said.
The prime minister did not disclose details of the negotiations, but he insisted on the effectiveness of Israeli military operations in weakening Hamas and paving the way for more serious talks.
Yahya Sinwar's death as a tipping point
One of the key elements cited by Netanyahu in this progress is the confirmed death of Yahya Sinwar, political and military leader of Hamas in Gaza. “His death is a turning point in this conflict. It significantly weakens the terrorist organization and sends a clear message: Israel will respond decisively to any threat,” he said.
Sinwar, considered a central Hamas strategist, is believed to have played a role in organizing the October 7, 2023 attack that sparked the war. For Netanyahu, his elimination, combined with continued military pressure on Hamas infrastructure and leaders, created a window of opportunity to make progress in hostage negotiations.
“Decisive military pressure on Hamas and its allies”
In his speech, Netanyahu also highlighted the importance of Israeli strikes against Iran-backed Hezbollah, which had launched rockets into Israel in support of Hamas. “Hamas hoped that Iran and Hezbollah would come to its aid, but they are busy healing the wounds we inflicted on them,” he said.
Netanyahu explained that this dual pressure on Gaza and the northern front had made it possible to contain regional threats while focusing efforts on the release of the hostages.
“A fight for our security and our sovereignty”
The Prime Minister reaffirmed Israel's commitment to continuing its operations until security is fully restored. “We are leading this fight for our hostages, but also for our security and our sovereignty. Every action taken aims to ensure that attacks like those of October 7 never happen again,” he added.
He also insisted that these efforts are not limited to the military component, but include complex diplomatic channels. Israel works with international mediators such as Qatar and Egypt, although Netanyahu has preferred not to go into details of these discussions for strategic reasons.
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