Jerusalem, July 3 -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would completely eliminate Hamas in his first public remark since US President Donald Trump claimed that Israel agreed to a 60-day ceasefire plan in Gaza.

Speaking at the EAPC facilities in Ashkelon, he said, "There will be no more Hamas - it's over. We will free all of our hostages and eliminate Hamas down to its very foundations. Expected revenues from gas in the coming decade will be almost NIS 300 billion."

Netanyahu's stern statement came as Hamas said it was "ready and serious" to the Washington-proposed 60-day ceasefire but reiterated that any agreement must include a complete end to the war and full Israeli withdrawal, demands that Israel continues to rej...