ISRAELI Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu today hardened his rejection of Hamas’s demands for an end to the war on Gaza in exchange for the freeing of captives.

The right-wing prime minister said he was willing to pause fighting in Gaza to secure the release of the captives still being held by Hamas, believed to number more than 130.

But Mr Netanyahu said he refused to permanently halt the offensive on Gaza because he said this would keep Hamas in power and this would pose a threat to Israel.