MK Moshe Saada of the ruling Likud Party said on Wednesday that he and other lawmakers approached Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu demanding he secure a "comprehensive deal" for the release of the hostages without halting the fighting in Gaza.
"We in Likud will not allow a deal that includes stopping the fighting," he told Ynet in an interview.
Saada and 11 members of his party, including Ministers Nir Barkat, Amichai Chikli and MK Tally Gotliv, sent a letter to Netanyahu demanding that control over the Philadelphi Route and the Rafah Crossing remain in the hands of the IDF. "It is impossible to defeat Hamas without full control over the border crossings and sources of energy and aid," they wrote.
(Alexandra Lukash)