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This press conference came following criticism from both Israel’s right and left, which are both against his plan to occupy Gaza City.<\/p>\n
Hamas misled Israel in hostage negotiations, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu admitted during his second press conference on Sunday in Hebrew.<\/p>\n
Hamas demanded the release of Nukhba terrorists, demanded binding international guarantees not to return to fighting, and demanded Israel’s withdrawal from the Strip, including from the Philadelphi Corridor. The prime minister argued that no government would accept such a deal.<\/p>\n
Netanyahu refused to answer The Jerusalem Post<\/em> twice when he was asked if he would accept a partial hostage deal. “They are going to release the 20 hostages. We talked about a partial deal, and it didn’t happen. They want to release everyone, and we did,” he responded.<\/p>\n In response to the Post<\/em>‘s question about whether it makes sense for the IDF’s chief of staff<\/a> to command an operation he doesn’t believe in, he said he is not willing to accept the assumption from which the question stems.<\/p>\n “A commander in the army is highly respected. I was a commander in Sayeret Matkal. I expressed reservations, and commanders made the decisions,” the prime minister answered. “The same thing happens today \u2013 thank God we\u2019ve been through a lot. I approve and encourage the military, its leadership, and all heads of security branches to express their opinions, and sometimes I am persuaded. What I decide is carried out.”<\/p>\n