Netanyahu: no ceasefire until hostages released

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected growing calls for a ceasefire in Gaza until all of the more than 240 hostages captured by Hamas during its October 7 attacks are returned.

"There will be no ceasefire without the return of the hostages. This should be completely removed from the lexicon," Netanyahu told crews at the Ramon air force base in southern Israel, reiterating the government's long-standing position.

"We say this to our friends and to our enemies. We will simply continue until we defeat them. We have no alternative," the PM said.