America News Agency

But he also insisted that Israel would not reduce the fighting in Gaza. He argued that it would be a lifeline for Hamas.

"This will determine our entire future. If we withdraw, it will give Hamas a new lease of life," Netanyahu said.

The United States, Egypt, and Qatar have recently exerted great pressure to reach an agreement to end hostilities. But Benjamin Netanyahu said tonight that he could not see a future in which Hamas would play any role. "The end of the war in Gaza will come when Hamas no longer has control there," he said.

At the press conference, Benjamin Netanyahu also argued that Israel should have full control over the so-called Philadelphia Corridor, the border between the Gaza Strip and Egypt.

According to Netanyahu, Hamas receives supplies through this border crossing, and this will not be tolerated. Since the outbreak of the war, many civilians have remained in the southern part of the Gaza Strip, especially in the city of Rafah, after being pushed out of northern cities by intense fighting.

Netanyahu said that meeting Hamas' demands for a possible ceasefire agreement would be shooting himself in the foot, and rhetorically asked during his speech, "What message would this not send to Hamas? Kill the hostages and win concessions?"

After Netanyahu's speech, a Hamas spokesman said that Israel was responsible for the deaths of six hostages while blocking the ceasefire agreement.

Alongside Benjamin Netanyahu's speech, tens of thousands of Israelis demonstrated in the streets of Tel Aviv.