Tue May 13 20:22:40 UTC 2025: **Headline: Netanyahu Defiant: No Gaza War Halt Even with Hostage Deal Amid Rising Tensions**
**Tel Aviv, May 14, 2025 (The Hindu) –** Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared that Israel will not halt its military operations in Gaza, even if an agreement is reached to release more hostages held by Hamas. This statement comes despite ongoing ceasefire talks that gained momentum following the release of the last living American hostage, Edan Alexander, a gesture intended for visiting U.S. President Donald Trump, who notably skipped a visit to Israel.
Netanyahu’s hardline stance threatens to widen the divide between himself and President Trump, who had hoped Alexander’s release would signal a path toward ending the 19-month conflict.
The Israeli military intensified its strikes on Gaza on Tuesday, targeting what it claimed was a Hamas command center beneath a hospital in Khan Younis. This attack on the European hospital followed an earlier strike on Nasser hospital, resulting in multiple casualties. Gaza’s Health Ministry reports that 57 children have died from malnutrition since Israel’s blockade began in March. The World Health Organization warns that nearly 71,000 children under five could suffer acute malnutrition in the coming months if the situation persists, calling it “one of the world’s worst hunger crises, unfolding in real time.”
Netanyahu emphasized that any ceasefire would only be temporary, vowing to continue the offensive “with great strength to complete the mission…destroying Hamas.” Hamas, for its part, insists on a lasting ceasefire, the release of Palestinian prisoners, and a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza in exchange for the remaining hostages.
The release of Edan Alexander has triggered criticism of Netanyahu, with many Israelis arguing the ongoing war endangers the hostages. Alexander’s parents have pleaded with Netanyahu to prioritize the hostages’ return. They also thanked President Trump for his role in securing their son’s release, detailing Edan’s harsh captivity, marked by hunger, lack of water, and constant fear of the ongoing conflict.
U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Adam Boehler are currently in Doha, Qatar, working with mediators to find a diplomatic solution. Netanyahu has also expressed support for President Trump’s controversial plan to encourage Palestinians to leave Gaza after the war, a proposal condemned by Palestinians and Arab nations.
The conflict has resulted in devastating consequences. Hamas’s initial attack killed 1,200 in 2023, while Israel’s retaliatory offensive has claimed the lives of over 52,800 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The offensive has also decimated Gaza’s infrastructure and displaced the vast majority of its population.
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