Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu heightened his demands as discussions between Tel Aviv and Hamas resumed regarding a new ceasefire and hostage exchange in Gaza, Anadolu Agency reports according to Israeli media.

According to Israel’s Walla website, Netanyahu has set stringent conditions for the ceasefire and hostage exchange agreement.

Netanyahu proposed that Israel maintain control over Gaza’s Egyptian border, referred to as the Philadelphi Corridor, and asserted that Israeli forces should oversee the remaining part of the Rafah crossing on the Palestinian side. The Israeli prime minister also expressed opposition to allowing “Hamas members” to return to northern Gaza, even in the event of a ceasefire.

Netanyahu also argued that any ceasefire and hostage exchange agreement in Gaza should ensure Israel’s right to resume attacks until the war’s objectives are achieved.

“Netanyahu has made these tough demands in an effort to maximise gains from negotiations, leveraging Hamas’s vulnerabilities. However, there is a concern that pushing too hard could lead to the collapse of the talks,” an unnamed Israeli official told Walla.