Israeli PM stands firm: No peace until Hamas surrenders

As Israeli negotiators prepare to travel to Doha for renewed hostage talks, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has sought to reassure his coalition partners that Israel will not agree to end the war in Gaza until Hamas is fully defeated.

The move to resume negotiations comes after a direct request from the Trump administration, following the release of American-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander by Hamas, Caliber.Az reports per Israeli media.

Netanyahu convened a call with the heads of parties in his coalition on May 12, making clear that sending a delegation to Doha does not signal a shift in Israel’s war objectives. “Unless Hamas agrees to disarm, we will only accept a temporary truce aimed at releasing some of the hostages,” Netanyahu was quoted as saying.

The Israeli prime minister agreed to send a team to Qatar after a meeting with US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and a follow-up phone conversation with President Donald Trump. The decision followed the unexpected release of Edan Alexander after 584 days in captivity — a move Hamas has described as a goodwill gesture toward the United States, facilitated by third-party mediation.

Trump praised the development, calling Alexander’s release “a step taken in good faith towards the United States and the efforts of the mediators… to put an end to this very brutal war and return ALL living hostages and remains to their loved ones.” US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee expressed hope that the event “marks the beginning of the end to this terrible war.”

Despite the diplomatic momentum, Netanyahu maintains a hardline stance, insisting that no deal will be made unless Hamas’s military and governing capabilities are dismantled. This position may place him at odds not only with Hamas, but with Washington, where officials have started publicly referring to “ending the war” in Gaza for the first time in months.

Meanwhile, humanitarian conditions in Gaza continue to deteriorate. While Israel halted aid shipments on March 2, citing Hamas’s alleged theft of supplies, even Israeli defense officials reportedly acknowledge the Strip is approaching famine. International calls for aid resumption are mounting, but a sustainable solution remains elusive.

Public opinion in Israel remains divided, with polls showing a majority willing to accept a ceasefire in exchange for the remaining hostages. However, Netanyahu, under pressure from his far-right coalition partners, has consistently rejected this path, warning it would leave Hamas intact.

By Vafa Guliyeva