Netanyahu 'committed' to US cease-fire plan despite 'partial' deal offer
The State Department characterized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's comment that he would accept only a partial cease-fire deal as a slip of the tongue.
WASHINGTON — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday walked back his comments from a day earlier that appeared to contradict the US-endorsed plan to permanently end the war in the Gaza Strip and free the hostages.
“We are committed to the Israeli proposal, which President Biden has welcomed. Our position has not changed,” Netanyahu said in remarks to the Knesset.
Netanyahu told Israel's Channel 14 on Sunday that he was prepared to accept a “partial deal” that would return “some” of those taken during Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel.
"I am ready to do a partial deal," Netanyahu said in the interview. "It is no secret, that will bring back some of the people. But we are committed to continue the war after the pause in order to achieve the goal of destroying Hamas. I will not give up on this."
