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“Hamas’ rule has to come to an end”, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Euronews in an exclusive interview on Sunday, discussing the US-led ceasefire plan and the future of Israel and Gaza.

Netanyahu stated that if Hamas accepts the plan, it “could be the beginning of the end of the war."

However, if it doesn’t, then “Israel will receive, as (US) President (Donald) Trump said, the full support of the United States to forcefully act against it to bring about an end to the war.”

“Let’s hope we can finish it the easy way and not the hard way.”

Read the Euronews in its entirety and watch it in the player above.

Euronews: The latest ceasefire deal with Hamas comes close to exactly two years since the Hamas attack on 7 October. We might see the hostages freed on the same day they were taken two years ago. Bringing the hostages back, can you say Israel achieved its main goal?

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: Well, we accepted the deal, as did the whole world. It was President (Donald) Trump's plan. Hamas says that it accepted the plan. Now the onus is on Hamas. This plan consists of two parts. The first part is releasing all the hostages. Israel makes a tactical withdrawal, stays in Gaza.

And then the second part is meant to demilitarise Gaza and disarm Hamas, that will be negotiated. But the first part is there, it's agreed upon. And that could be indeed the beginning of the end of the war. And as I said, since we accepted it, we have to see what Hamas will do. If Hamas does accept it, I think it's a very good sign.

If Hamas doesn't accept it and it's the possibility that we always take into mind, then Israel will receive, as President Trump says, the full support of the United States to forcefully act against it to bring about an end to the war. I prefer, obviously, that we proceed with the plan as presented.

But time will tell, and it won't take very long, in a few days we'll know, if Hamas agrees to the release of all our hostages, we can move forward. That is complete phase one of the deal. That's what we're trying to do right now.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks to Euronews' Sasha Vakulina in an exclusive interview, 5 October 2025 Euronews

Euronews: Prime minister, what happens if Hamas does not release the hostages? What will Israel do? How will Israel change its stance and strategy?

Netanyahu:** Well, you have to realise that the reason Hamas agreed in the first place to this deal is because we acted militarily against their main stronghold, the city of Gaza. I gave an order several weeks ago to the army to enter that stronghold.

And as a result, Hamas became, I would say, a lot more flexible because they realised that their end is near. Add to that President Trump's intervention and the plan that he put for ending the conflict by having the hostages released first.