Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that Israel is engaged in a fierce war on seven fronts against those he described as “seeking its annihilation,” emphasizing that Israeli forces are ready to escalate combat at any time.
Netanyahu reaffirmed that the war’s objectives remain unchanged: securing the return of kidnapped citizens, dismantling Hamas’s capabilities, and eliminating any threats to Israeli citizens. He noted that Israeli forces have freed 192 detainees since the war’s onset.
Meanwhile, a spokesman for the US National Security Council confirmed that President Donald Trump has expressed support for Israel’s decision to delay the release of 600 Palestinian prisoners. Trump indicated his willingness to back any approach Israel chooses regarding Hamas.
In a related development, Hamas leader Mahmoud Mardawi stated on Sunday that the movement would not engage in talks with Israel through intermediaries such as Egypt and Qatar unless Palestinian prisoners, agreed to be released on Saturday, are freed. Mardawi declared that no discussions will take place until those prisoners are released in exchange for six Israeli prisoners and four bodies, as per a prior agreement.
According to reports in Arab media, Egyptian officials in Cairo are hopeful, citing positive signs from the U.S. administration suggesting that President Trump supports completing the release of all Israeli prisoners and avoiding a return to war in Gaza, despite his public comments.
Despite delays in initiating talks for the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement, initially set for January 19, there is cautious optimism among Egyptian mediators that the ceasefire will hold, and further conflict may be avoided.
In an international context, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk rejected President Trump’s proposal to seize control of Gaza, calling it “absolutely unacceptable.” Turk further condemned the forcible expulsion of Palestinians from their lands, stressing the urgent need for an independent investigation into Israel’s actions in Gaza. He emphasized that any sustainable solution must be based on accountability, justice, and the protection of human rights for both Israelis and Palestinians.
