Netanyahu's 4 principles Israel agrees to for hostage deal as negotiations pick up

The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced four principles that it says must be part of any hostage release deal with the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas.

The declaration comes as the "Prime Minister's steadfast position against the attempt to halt IDF action in Rafah is what has led Hamas to enter negotiations," the office says. The city in the southern Gaza Strip has been described as Hamas’ last stronghold following months of fighting in the war-torn territory.

The principles are:

"Any deal will allow Israel to resume fighting until all objectives of the war have been achieved."

Israel has repeatedly said its military campaign against Hamas will not end until the Palestinian terrorist group is eliminated.

BIDEN SPEAKS WITH NETANYAHU ON LATEST HAMAS CEASEFIRE PROPOSAL

Netanyahu, who made this vow in late June, also said months ago that "Israel has no intention of permanently occupying Gaza or displacing its civilian population."

"Our goal is to rid Gaza of Hamas terrorists and free our hostages. Once this is achieved, Gaza can be demilitarized and deradicalized, thereby creating a possibility for a better future for Israel and Palestinians alike," Netanyahu said in a video posted on X in January.

"There will be no smuggling of weapons to Hamas from Egypt to the Gaza border."

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) released video footage in June showing tunnels allegedly used by Hamas to smuggle weapons into Gaza from Egypt, according to The Times of Israel.

At least 20 tunnels crossing from Egypt into Gaza have been detected, the outlet reported.

NETANYAHU READY TO MAKE PARTIAL CEASE-FIRE DEAL, VOWS WAR WILL CONTINUE UNTIL HAMAS IS ELIMINATED

Throughout the nine-month war, Israeli troops have