JERUSALEM — Israel’s top Gaza priority is destroying Hamas, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday, adding that it would be pursued along with hostage recovery and that both goals were in a plan to wind down the war approved at the highest level of his government.
“This is not something that I am adding now. This is not something that I am adding because I am under pressure within the coalition. It is something we agreed on unanimously in the war cabinet,” Netanyahu said in a video statement.
Earlier, Israeli media quoted Netanyahu that the first phase of a U.S.-promoted plan to wind down the Gaza war, entailing a limited hostage release by Hamas, could be undertaken without necessary agreement on what follows.
The leaked quotes from a closed-door parliamentary meeting, which were not immediately confirmed by officials, suggested Israel sees a possibility of entering an initial Gaza truce though it has ruled out ending the war as demanded by Hamas.
