Netanyahu Says Hamas Exit Demand Would Have Been Defeat

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the IDF senior command forum that Israel could not accept Hamas's demand to trade all hostages for a complete IDF exit from Gaza, calling that a defeat that would leave the terror group in power. He said Israel needs to recover the hostages and defeat Hamas, because the group will not disappear by itself. Netanyahu also argued that Iran's regime understands Israel can reach every part of Iran and that Israeli soldiers' resolve brought the campaign to a strategic crossroads. The statement keeps hostage recovery tied to victory, not surrender to Hamas's terms.