GAZA CITY: Israel intensified its military campaign in Gaza on Monday, despite earlier indications from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the “intense phase” of the bombardment was winding down. Meanwhile, Hamas again demanded a permanent ceasefire and complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.
In a televised interview on Sunday, Netanyahu asserted that while the intensity of the conflict in southern Gaza, particularly in Rafah, was expected to ease, the broader military operations would continue until Israeli goals were achieved. These objectives, Netanyahu emphasized, include securing the release of Israeli hostages and dismantling what he referred to as the “Hamas regime” in Gaza.
“The goal is to restore security to our citizens and ensure the complete disarmament of terrorist elements operating in Gaza,” Netanyahu stated. He reaffirmed Israel’s stance against a permanent ceasefire as demanded by Hamas and international mediators.
Hamas slammed Netanyahu’s comments as a “clear confirmation of his rejection of the recent (UN) Security Council (UNSC) resolution and the proposal of US President Joe Biden,” who has urged a hostage release and truce agreement.
The Palestinian resistance group insisted any such deal must include a permanent ceasefire and full Israeli withdrawal in order to stop what it called “Netanyahu’s attempts to evade, deceive and perpetuate the aggression and war of extermination against our people”.
Since October 7 last year, Israel has launched a relentless military offensive in Gaza that has killed at least 37,626 Palestinians, mostly women and children, Gaza’s health ministry said.
Israel has also imposed a siege on Gaza’s 2.4 million people, depriving them of most food and other essentials and driving many to the brink of starvation, the suffering alleviated only by sporadic aid shipments.
UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini warned that “the breakdown of civil order” in Gaza has led to “rampant looting and smuggling that impede the delivery of desperately needed humanitarian aid”.
Meanwhile, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant traveled to Washington for urgent talks with American officials. Gallant’s visit coincides with heightened diplomatic efforts aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict and addressing humanitarian concerns.
On the ground in Gaza, eyewitnesses reported continued Israeli airstrikes targeting areas including Nuseirat and Rafah, while clashes between Israeli troops and Hamas’s fighters were reported in Zeitun.
Amidst the military onslaught, reports emerged of civilian casualties, including a deadly airstrike on a United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) facility in Gaza City, which killed at least five people according to hospital sources.
The escalating violence has provoked international condemnation over the high civilian death toll and widespread destruction in Gaza. Calls for humanitarian assistance have grown louder, with UNRWA warning of a “breakdown of civil order” exacerbating conditions for Gaza’s 2.4 million residents, who face severe shortages of food and essential supplies.
Hamas condemned Netanyahu’s latest remarks as a rejection of international efforts for a peaceful resolution, insisting that any agreement must include a permanent ceasefire and Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.
As tensions persist, Israeli citizens have also expressed discontent, with protests erupting against Netanyahu’s government and its handling of the crisis. Activist groups advocating for the return of hostages have criticized the government’s policies, labeling any resolution that does not secure the release of all captives as a “national failure.”
In Washington, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken are expected to hold talks with Minister Gallant, focusing on strategies to de-escalate the conflict and restore stability to the region.
