Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks throughout a press convention within the Kirya army base in Tel Aviv on Oct. 28, amid ongoing battles between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas.

Abir Sultan/Pool/AFP by way of Getty Images

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Abir Sultan/Pool/AFP by way of Getty Images

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks throughout a press convention within the Kirya army base in Tel Aviv on Oct. 28, amid ongoing battles between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas.

Abir Sultan/Pool/AFP by way of Getty Images

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected a cease-fire plan delivered by the Palestinian militant group Hamas to finish the warfare in Gaza.

Netanyahu known as the plan “delusional” and famous that it might have left Hamas in energy of the Gaza Strip on the finish of the phased truce.

“It will just invite another massacre,” Netanyahu mentioned at a information convention hours after assembly Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

Blinken says he is within the area to press for a cease-fire that enables extra help into Gaza and a launch of hostages held by Hamas there. Hamas additionally desires the discharge of hundreds of Palestinians held in Israeli jails.

Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, killing some 1,200 individuals and taking round 240 hostages, based on Israeli officers. Israel launched an air and floor marketing campaign in Gaza, killing greater than 27,000 Palestinians, based on Gaza’s Health Ministry.

Netanyahu mentioned an enduring peace might solely be achieved by way of a “total victory” of the Israeli army in opposition to Hamas, arguing that something wanting that might solely embolden Iran-backed militias throughout the area.

“Without total victory, Iran and its terror proxies — Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis and others — will be emboldened to subvert moderate states in the Middle East; they’ll threaten the entire free world,” he mentioned.

“Only total victory will prevent that. And total victory is within our reach,” he added, saying such a outcome was a matter of months, not years.

U.S. nonetheless sees room to barter

Blinken mentioned there was nonetheless room for negotiations to proceed, telling reporters that “while there are some clear non-starters to Hamas’ response, we do think it creates space for agreement to be reached and we will work at that relentlessly until we get there.”

Hamas’ proposal on Tuesday had raised hopes in Gaza of a attainable finish or pause to the preventing. Thousands of individuals have fled to the city of Rafah, on the coastal enclave’s southernmost border with Egypt, to flee the Israeli onslaught, and have nowhere left to go. Israel’s protection minister, Yoav Gallant, hinted earlier within the week that the Israeli army might transfer there subsequent.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres warned Wednesday that an Israeli offensive into Rafah “would exponentially increase what is already a humanitarian nightmare with untold regional consequences.”

Blinken mentioned he raised considerations about this with Israeli officers throughout his go to and reminded them that they’ve an obligation to guard civilians, though he he has mentioned that many occasions earlier than.

NPR’s Michele Kelemen contributed to this report from Tel Aviv.