Half a million Israelis demand Netanyahu go; Brits cut arms shipments; journalists arrested on ropes

Hamas says Israel’s prime minister and army are fully responsible for the deaths of the captives in Gaza - Hamas’s armed wing says the Israeli prime minister and army are fully and solely responsible for the deaths of the captives in Gaza.

Benjamin Netanyahu says he 'will not surrender' - as pressure grows over hostage release deal

The Israeli prime minister spoke against a backdrop of some of the largest protests his government has seen since the outbreak of the war in Gaza on 7 October, as anger over the failure to get hostages home safely intensifies.

By Claire Gilbody Dickerson, news reporter

Monday 2 September 2024 23:39, UK

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Benjamin Netanyahu said that he will not ‘surrender to the pressure’ after declaring he is still ‘fully committed’ to a hostage deal. 1:05

‘I will not surrender to the pressure’

https://news.sky.com/story/benjamin-netanyahu-says-israel-must-stand-united-as-one-as-he-faces-protests-over-deaths-of-hostages-13208611

Israel's prime minister says he "will not surrender to pressure" amid growing calls for him to agree a deal to end the conflict in Gaza.

Speaking in an address to the nation, Benjamin Netanyahu said there were "certain things we won't compromise on" with Hamas.

Mr Netanyahu said he was "fully committed" to advancing negotiations for a ceasefire, but claimed the Palestinian militant group was "refusing" any proposal.

The Israeli prime minister also vowed that Israel would not give up control of the Philadelphi corridor in Gaza - a narrow piece of land in southern Gaza which leads to its border with Egypt - which he described as "Hamas' lifeline".

Mr Netanyahu's comments came amid intense pressure over the deaths of six more Israeli hostages.
People attend a demonstration calling for the immediate return of hostages held in Gaza, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, outside Prime Minister office in Jerusalem September 1, 2024. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun
Image: People called for the immediate return of hostages held in Gaza outside in Jerusalem on Sunday. Pic: Reuters

Speaking against a backdrop of some of the largest protests his government has seen since the outbreak of the war in Gaza almost 11 months ago, Mr Netanyahu issued a message of unity, urging that Israel "must stand united as one".

Some half a million people are estimated to have taken the streets of Israel on Sunday to express anger at his government's failure to secure a ceasefire deal after the six hostages were found dead in an underground tunnel in Gaza on Saturday.

Mr Netanyahu issued an apology to the families of the hostages for failing to return them alive and asked for forgiveness.

But he also hit out at the suggestion that their deaths should result in more pressure on Israel to agree to a deal, and said Hamas would pay a "heavy price" for killing the hostages in "cold blood".