Israeli PM affirms continued conflict despite brief ceasefire and hostage release deal.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reaffirmed that Israel’s war against Hamas will continue until the militant group is completely eliminated. Despite a four-day ceasefire set to begin this week, which will facilitate the release of some hostages held by Hamas in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, Netanyahu declared the conflict is far from over.

“The war continues,” Netanyahu stated in a press conference in Tel Aviv. “We will continue until we have achieved complete victory—eliminating Hamas, freeing our captives, and ensuring that no future threat from Hamas exists to Israel.”

The release of hostages was initially set to take place earlier, but Israel’s national security adviser, Tzachi Hanegbi, clarified that the exchange would be delayed until Friday. Discussions on the deal remain ongoing.

Under the ceasefire agreement, Hamas is expected to release at least 50 of the more than 240 hostages taken on October 7, in exchange for 150 Palestinian prisoners. The truce will allow up to 300 trucks of humanitarian aid into Gaza, where heavy bombardment and a blockade have caused a dire humanitarian crisis. While the ceasefire is expected to last at least four days, further discussions on the continuation of the prisoner exchanges are still in progress.

Israel’s air sorties over southern Gaza will be halted, and activity in northern Gaza will be limited to six hours per day. A Hamas statement also confirmed that Israel agreed not to make any arrests in Gaza during the ceasefire.

The exchange will prioritize the release of women and children from both sides. If the initial phase goes smoothly, additional releases may follow. However, continued conflict and logistical complexities may still cause delays in the implementation of the deal.