Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says his country will not halt the war in Gaza until Hamas is destroyed.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says there is no way Israel will halt its war in Gaza - where airstrikes on two hospitals Tuesday killed at least eight and wounded dozens - even if a deal is reached to release more hostages.
Netanyahu's comments are likely to complicate talks on a new ceasefire that had seemed to gain momentum after Hamas released at least the last living American hostage on Monday in a gesture to US President Donald Trump, who is visiting the region but is skipping Israel.
They pointed to a potentially widening rift between Netanyahu and Trump, who had expressed hope that the release of Israeli-American soldier Edan Alexander would be a step toward ending the 19-month war.
In comments released by Netanyahu's office Tuesday, the prime minister said Israeli forces were just days away from a promised escalation of force and would enter Gaza "with great strength to complete the mission.... It means destroying Hamas."
He said any ceasefire deal reached would be "for a certain period of time", but warned that Israel was "going to the end" in the fight against Hamas.
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