Netanyahu was occasionally charming, repeatedly irritated over the questions asked during the press conference on Wednesday evening.
A recurring question concerned the so-called Philadelphia corridor, which has long been a major obstacle in the negotiations for a ceasefire in Gaza.
Decisive question
Israel has previously reiterated the demand that Israeli military should continue to control the border strip, a demand that Hamas has entirely opposed in a ceasefire. Ahead of the press conference, there were signals that Israel might give up control to reach an agreement with Hamas.
But Netanyahu closed that possibility again:
If we want to free the hostages, we must have continued control over the Philadelphia corridor, said Netanyahu at the press conference.
With emphasis, the Prime Minister repeated that Islamist Hamas is the cause of the war and claimed that it is Hamas representatives who have blocked proposed ceasefire agreements.
Netanyahu simultaneously stressed that Israel "stands firm on our goals for the war".
It is Hamas that cold-bloodedly murders the hostages, said the Prime Minister.
Divisions in the government
Netanyahu's tough stance marked that he does not intend to give in, despite the massive street protests demanding that Israel agree to a ceasefire to free the hostages.
But divisions within the government, and Netanyahu's ruling party Likud, were visible.
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, also from Likud, said on Tuesday that Israel can no longer hold on to the demand to control the Philadelphia corridor between the Gaza Strip and Egypt.
