Jerusalem | Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu refused on Monday (Tuesday AEST) to “surrender” to pressure to agree to a hostage deal or end the Gaza war, brushing aside pleas from allies and demands from Israeli protesters for an immediate ceasefire.

In his first news conference since the bodies of six slain hostages were recovered over the weekend, Mr Netanyahu vowed to keep an Israeli troop presence along the border between Egypt and Gaza – a contentious plan that appeared to dim, if not dash, prospects for a truce.