Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu sets conditions for a ceasefire

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on November 8 once again dismissed the prospect of a ceasefire in Gaza, amid reports of talks on a temporary ceasefire between the Israeli army and Hamas.

According to AFP, a source close to the Hamas Islamist movement previously said negotiations were underway to release dozens of hostages held by the force, including six Americans, in exchange for a three-day ceasefire in Gaza.

The pause in fighting is being arranged "to allow Egypt to extend (the period of) humanitarian aid delivery" and for Hamas to release 12 hostages, the source said.

However, in the latest statement, Prime Minister Netanyahu stated: "I want to put to rest all the false rumors that have been heard from all directions and make it clear: there will be no ceasefire if (Hamas) does not release our hostages."

Earlier on November 6, Prime Minister Netanyahu rejected calls for a ceasefire despite mounting international pressure, but noted that Israel would consider "small tactical pauses" amid fighting in Gaza to facilitate the arrival of aid or the release of hostages.

Meanwhile, in a television interview on November 8, Israeli military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari announced that the Hamas movement had lost control of the northern Gaza area as about 50,000 residents there had moved south.

Mr. Hagari also said that there would not be a comprehensive ceasefire, but Israel had allowed humanitarian pauses at specific times to allow civilians to evacuate to the south.

Earlier the same day, AFP news agency (France) quoted a well-informed source saying that Qatar was mediating negotiations between Israel and the Hamas Islamist movement, proposing to release 10-15 hostages being held in the Gaza Strip in exchange for a 1-2 day ceasefire.

On the same day, speaking at a joint press conference with Hungarian President Katalin Novak in Brussels (Belgium), Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Jens Stoltenberg said that the allies of this military bloc support the agreement to temporarily stop fighting to allow humanitarian aid to reach Gaza.

In a related development, on November 8, President of the European Council Charles Michel said the European Union will take the lead in promoting the early organization of a peace conference on the Hamas-Israel conflict.

Speaking at the European Parliament, he added that the conference would be inspired by previous peace initiatives and the Abraham Accords on normalizing relations between Gulf Muslim countries and Israel.