Netanyahu says Israeli army instructed to seize Hamas strongholds in Gaza City

Middle East

4 days ago

RAMALLAH, Aug 10 (MENA) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said at a press conference on Sunday that the Israeli cabinet has instructed the army to move to the decisive phase and take control of the last strongholds remaining in Hamas's hands in Gaza City.
Ynetnews quoted Netanyahu as saying: "That's where the headquarters, commanders and infrastructure are, from there Hamas controls."
In response to a question at a press conference for local media on whether he would agree to a partial hostage release deal if Hamas agrees to one after the operation begins, Netanyahu does not answer directly, replying instead that he is "committed to the release of all 20 of our hostages, and the defeat of Hamas is the decisive operation that I believe will achieve that."
He noted that Hamas demanded the release of Nukhba terrorists, demanded binding international guarantees not to return to fighting, and demanded Israel's withdrawal from the Strip, including from the Philadelphi Corridor, arguing no government would accept such a deal.
Meanwhile, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said the Israeli army troops will remain deployed to northern West Bank refugee camps at least until the end of the year, committing to the continuation of Israeli military presence in the densely populated Palestinian towns for several more months, according to the Times of Israel.
Katz claimed that Jenin, Tulkarem, and Nur Shams camps were hotbeds of terror, funded and armed by Iran, to act as another front against Israel.
In January, the Israeli military launched the "Iron Wall" operation in the northern West Bank, as it began in the Jenin refugee camp, adjacent to the city of Jenin, and later expanded to include refugee camps near the city of Tulkarem in the western West Bank—the Tulkarem and Nur Shams camps. (MENA)
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