Israel will return to fighting if 60-day truce doesn’t yield Gaza war deal: Netanyahu

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned that Israel will resume military operations in Gaza if a proposed 60-day ceasefire fails to produce a lasting agreement to end the war and dismantle Hamas.

Speaking at the end of what he described as a “historic visit” to the United States, Netanyahu said Israel is working on a deal to secure the release of about half of the remaining hostages—both living and deceased—in exchange for a temporary truce. The ceasefire, he said, would serve as a window for negotiating a permanent end to the conflict.

But he made clear that Israel’s core demands remain non-negotiable: Hamas must disarm, Gaza must be demilitarised, and the group must be stripped of any governing or military capabilities.

“If this can be achieved through negotiations—great,” Netanyahu said. “If not, we will achieve it through the force of our heroic army.”

The Israeli leader, who met with US President Donald Trump during his trip, said the U.S. and Israel had reached key understandings on Gaza and regional security. While he did not disclose specifics, Netanyahu indicated the agreements extend “beyond the region.”

He also addressed rising public concern over the war’s duration and the fate of the hostages. “We are determined to bring them all back,” he said, recounting meetings with families of both the living and deceased captives.

Netanyahu defended the pace of Israel’s military campaign, citing the unprecedented complexity of urban warfare against Hamas. He praised the efforts of Israeli forces, noting that “most of Hamas’s military capabilities have been dismantled,” but acknowledged that thousands of fighters still remain active.

Despite initial U.S. resistance to Israeli operations in southern Gaza—including Rafah—Netanyahu said Israel had pushed forward and would continue doing so, combining diplomacy and military pressure.

“We’ve returned to fighting after every previous ceasefire,” he said. “If Hamas doesn’t meet our conditions in 60 days, we’ll return again.”

The prime minister stressed that while Israel seeks the return of all hostages, the outcome of negotiations remains partly out of its hands. “We are dealing with a cruel terrorist organisation,” he said. “But we will do everything to maximise this release in the best way possible.”

With a fragile truce on the table and the threat of renewed combat looming, Netanyahu’s message was clear: Israel’s war goals remain unchanged—and if talks fail, the battle will resume.