Netanyahu says protesters calling to end the war today ‘are hardening Hamas’ stance, and ensuring another October 7’

At the start of the Cabinet meeting on Sunday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu referred to the “People’s Strike" protest, saying the protesters are aiding Hamas. 

“Those who are calling for an end to the war today without defeating Hamas, are not only hardening Hamas’s stance and pushing off the release of our hostages, they are also ensuring that the horrors of the October 7 will recur and that our sons and daughters will need to fight in an endless war,” Netanyahu told the cabinet. 

Netanyahu also said that Hamas is refusing to negotiate in good faith, saying it is demanding a complete Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip. 

“Our ongoing security control in the Strip is only one of our conditions for concluding the war, conditions that Hamas is refusing to accept,” he continued. “We insist that not only must Hamas be disarmed, but also that Israel will enforce the demilitarization of the Strip over time by continuous action against any attempt at rearmament and reorganization by any terrorist element whatsoever.” 

“Hamas is demanding the complete opposite. It wants us to completely leave the entire Strip, from north to south, including the Philadelphi Corridor that prevents smuggling and the security perimeter that protects our communities,” Netanyahu continued. “This way it would be able to reorganize, rearm and attack us again. Hamas would again be able to come in its pickup trucks and with its monstrous murderers up to the fence and threaten Nir Oz, Kissufim and Sderot all over again.” 

“Therefore, both to advance the release of our hostages and to ensure that Gaza will never again constitute a threat to Israel, we must complete the work and defeat Hamas,” Netanyahu stated, saying this was why the cabinet voted to continue the war last week. 

“Together we have had great achievements against our enemies on all fronts. Together we will fight and with G-d’s help, together we will complete the victory and end the war.” 

The Hostages and Missing Family Forum, along with the October Council, which planned the day of protests, criticized Netanyahu’s remarks, saying, “Netanyahu, for the past 22 months the abductees have been languishing in Gaza – on your watch. Instead of deceiving the public, spreading spins and discrediting the families of the abductees, bring back our loved ones in an agreement and end the war. This is the only decision that the people of Israel demand, and it is the only possible decision.” 

“The people voted today with their feet and said in a clear and clear voice: Bring the hostages and the soldiers home, and end the war. The time has come for the government to implement the will of the people. The people are with the hostages.” 

The October Council said, “The way to prevent another disaster like October 7 is to establish a state commission of inquiry that will investigate the failures and omissions, and make it possible to correct and draw conclusions. Anyone who refuses to establish a state commission of inquiry and refuses to make a deal that will return all the abductees is harming the security of the state.” 

“The time has come for the prime minister to listen to the cry of the people and the cry of the families,” the council said. “The time has come to return all the abductees and to establish a state commission of inquiry to prevent the next disaster.” 

Likud MK Hanoch Milwidsky also called the protests, “riots in support of Hamas” in a post to 𝕏:

“The riots in support of Hamas have begun,” he wrote. “Jews, Israelis who are burning the country in an attempt to prevent the destruction of Hamas. There have been such people among our nation throughout history. We overcame them. So it will be this time as well.” 

After cabinet ministers Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich released statements denigrating the protests, opposition leader Yair Lapid blasted the government in a post to 𝕏. 

“Have you no shame?” he asked. 

“The new and despicable message sheet from the government ministers accuses the strikers and protesters for the hostages of ‘aiding Hamas.’ Have you no shame?” Lapid asked. “No one has strengthened Hamas more than you.” 

Lapid also accused the coalition members of being the ones who strengthen Hamas through their actions. 

“You transferred tens of millions of dollars to them in suitcases, you strengthened them for years, and the hostages fell into Hamas captivity on your watch,” he claimed. “The only thing that will truly weaken Hamas is to oust this failed, malicious government.” 

While many in Israel support ending the war in order to return the hostages, a sizable number supports continuing the war until Hamas is defeated. 

So far, Netanyahu has attempted to negotiate partial deals with Hamas to rescue the greatest number of hostages. However, recently announced that he will no longer pursue a partial hostage deal, but will demand the release of all remaining hostages. 

On Saturday the Prime Minister’s Office released a statement saying, “We will agree to a deal on the condition of releasing all the hostages in one fell swoop and in accordance with our conditions for ending the war, which include disarming Hamas, demilitarizing the Strip, Israel's security control over the Strip, and bringing in a government entity that is not Hamas and not the PA that will live in peace with Israel.”