Israel’s ambassador to the U.S.: temporary ceasefire under discussion, war will not end until Hamas is eliminated

Israeli Ambassador to the United States Yechiel Leiter said on Wednesday that the Israeli government is studying several options related to a ceasefire in Gaza, including the possibility of reaching a partial deal with Hamas. He stressed, however, that the war will not end except by “the movement’s surrender or its complete destruction,” he said.

Temporary ceasefire under consideration

In an interview with CNN, Leiter said there are discussions about the possibility of a temporary ceasefire, but he reiterated that “the war will not end until Hamas is finished.” His remarks come at a time when Israeli leadership in recent weeks has publicly rejected the idea of partial agreements, insisting that any ceasefire must include the release of all hostages at once.

Pressure from hostages’ families

The ambassador’s comments reflect a relative opening to other options amid increasing pressure from hostages’ families on the Israeli government to accept partial initiatives, especially after Hamas offered a 60-day truce that would include the release of 10 living hostages and 18 bodies. Families regard this as an opportunity that should be used to negotiate an end to the war and secure the release of the remaining detainees.

Criticism of mediators

Leiter criticized Arab mediators Egypt and Qatar, accusing them of not exerting enough pressure on Hamas, and questioned why senior Hamas figures remain in Qatar and Turkey “without intervention from the international community,” he said.

Hamas’s military strength

The ambassador claimed the movement used previous lulls to rebuild its military capabilities, estimating that it now numbers between 25,000 and 30,000 fighters. He added that Israel “cannot guarantee the return of all the hostages soon,” but that it “will do everything it can” to achieve that.