The Israeli Prime Minister's pre-recorded speech to the nation was broadcast on Saturday evening. Netanyahu said that Israel will not "give in".
I do not surrender to murderers. Such a decision would put you in danger, said Netanyahu standing in front of Israeli flags.
The speech was broadcast during the Jewish Easter holiday of Pesach – and hours after Hamas showed a recording suggesting that one of the hostages is alive.
The move was also made in connection with the second round of talks on Iran's nuclear energy program being concluded in Rome. Netanyahu reiterated the Israeli threat of military action if no agreement is reached.
But the main focus of Netanyahu's speech was the war against Hamas. He said that those taken hostage by Hamas and other Islamic extremist groups would have been freed if Hamas had accepted an Israeli negotiating proposal presented over the weekend.
The Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported simultaneously that Netanyahu's office had not yet received an official response from Hamas.
Large demonstrations were held in several parts of the country against the failure to free the hostages. The protests were unusually large in connection with the Jewish Easter holiday coming to an end. A protest was held in Moshav Mazor, which Netanyahu was invited to.
Why are you playing Russian roulette with the hostages? asked one of those who had previously been taken hostage at one of the demonstrations.
