Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said today (5/7/24) that the latest truce proposal made by the Islamist Palestinian group Hamas falls far short of Israel’s basic demands, adding that military pressure remains necessary for the return of hostages held in Gaza.
Israeli forces earlier took control of the Palestinian side of the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip, a development Netanyahu described as “a very important step towards destroying the remaining military capabilities of Hamas.”
Defense minister warns that without progress on hostage issue, Gaza operation ‘will intensify’
Israel’s defense minister warned today (7/5/24) that the army is ready to “intensify” its military operations against Hamas “all over” the Gaza Strip if there is no progress on the release of the hostages are held in Palestinian territory.
“We are ready to compromise to bring back the hostages, but if we have no other choice, we will intensify the operation throughout the Strip – in the south, in the center and in the north,” Yoav Gallad said amid negotiations in Cairo, where Israel sent a delegation after weeks of fruitless talks.
The agreement should mainly concern the exchange of Palestinians held by Israel for hostages held in the Gaza Strip by Palestinian armed movements following the October 7 attack by Hamas on Israel.
Israel will continue its operation in the southern Gaza Strip town of Rafah until Hamas forces in the area are destroyed or the Islamist movement hands over one of the Israeli hostages it continues to hold, the defense minister added.
“This operation will continue until we eliminate Hamas in the Rafah area and the entire Gaza Strip or until the first hostage is returned,” Yoav Gallad said, according to a statement.
Meanwhile, the US has made its views clear to Israel about a large-scale ground operation in Rafah, a State Department spokesman said, in Washington’s first reaction since Israeli forces took control of the border crossing with Gaza.
“We continue to believe that a hostage deal is in the best interest of the Israeli and Palestinian people. It will lead to an immediate ceasefire and allow an increase in humanitarian aid to Gaza,” a spokesman said in an emailed statement.
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