Fri Jul 11 18:19:58 UTC 2025: ## Summary:
Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told NDTV that Hamas will not release all remaining hostages unless a guarantee is given that the war with Israel will end. He views the hostages as Hamas’s only remaining leverage.
## News Article:
**Olmert: Hamas Will Not Release All Hostages Without Guaranteed End to War**
**Jerusalem -** Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has stated that Hamas will not release all remaining hostages held in Gaza unless Israel guarantees a complete end to the ongoing war. In an interview with NDTV, Olmert asserted that the hostages represent Hamas’s sole remaining bargaining chip and that the group will leverage them to ensure their survival.
“Hamas will not release all the hostages, which is the only asset they still hold, unless it is guaranteed that the war is finished,” Olmert told the news outlet.
His comments come amidst ongoing negotiations between Israel and Hamas, mediated by international parties, aimed at securing the release of the hostages and establishing a ceasefire. Olmert’s stark assessment highlights the complexities and challenges facing the negotiation process, particularly concerning the fundamental disagreement over the long-term future of the conflict. While Israel has maintained its commitment to dismantling Hamas, the militant group is reportedly seeking assurances of a permanent cessation of hostilities as a precondition for a comprehensive hostage release.
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