Israel to launch new push against Hamas in Gaza, Netanyahu says
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday that a major new offensive aimed at defeating Hamas will be launched in the coming days.
Speaking to Israeli reservists injured during the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip, Netanyahu declared that "the destruction of Hamas and the release of all our hostages - these two go hand in hand."
"In the coming days, we will go in with full force to complete the campaign," Netanyahu said during the meeting at his office in Jerusalem, referring to a new military push.
Tens of thousands of reservists have recently been mobilized by the Israeli military in preparation for renewed operations. However, Israeli media reports suggest the offensive may be delayed until after US President Donald Trump concludes his visit this week to the Gulf region.
"Our forces are already on the ground," Netanyahu said, according to the remarks released by his office.
He said that if Hamas offers to release more hostages, Israel would accept them - but would continue its offensive regardless.
There will be "no situation where we end the war," he said. While a temporary ceasefire is possible, "we will go to the end."
Netanyahu also claimed that more than half of the approximately 2 million Palestinians living in Gaza would choose to leave if given the opportunity. However, he acknowledged difficulties in finding countries willing to take them in and said efforts are under way to address this.
The escalation has intensified fears among Palestinians of a new wave of displacement, reminiscent of the mass expulsions during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War and the 1967 Six-Day War.
Ceasefire negotiations are expected to resume soon in Qatar.
Hamas has rejected Israel's demand to disarm and insists on a full end to the war as a condition for releasing remaining hostages. Israel, in turn, is only willing to halt the war if Hamas relinquishes control of Gaza and has expressed its intention to maintain a long-term military presence in the territory.
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