&w=3840&q=100)
Combat to continue 'without rest' if hostages remain in Gaza, warns IDF chief
Palestinians gather as they carry aid supplies that entered Gaza through Israel, amid a hunger crisis, in Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip, July 20, 2025. File Image/Reuters
Israel's top general has warned that there would be no break in the fighting in Gaza if negotiations fail to immediately secure the release of hostages held in the Palestinian territory.
Army chief of staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir stated, 'I estimate that in the coming days we will know whether we can reach an agreement for the release of our hostages,' according to a military statement.
'If not, the combat will continue without rest,' he stated Friday while speaking to authorities within Gaza.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
The Israeli military released footage showing Zamir speaking with officials and troops at a command centre.
According to the military, 49 of the 251 persons who were abducted from Israel during Hamas' October 2023 attack are still in Gaza, with 27 of them having died.
This week, two films of the hostages appearing frail and malnourished were made public by Palestinian armed factions.
Some in Israel have urged for more forceful military action after negotiations to ensure a ceasefire and their release, which were brokered by the United States, Egypt, and Qatar, failed last month.
This occurs in the midst of mounting pressure to recommence efforts to broker a truce in the nearly 22-month crisis, both domestically and internationally, including from many of the hostages' families.
Meanwhile, charity organisations have issued warnings that Israeli aid restrictions are causing a devastating famine in Gaza.
Zamir nonetheless rejected these allegations out of hand.
'The current campaign of false accusations of intentional starvation is a deliberate, timed, and deceitful attempt to accuse the IDF (military), a moral army, of war crimes,' he said.
'The ones responsible for the killing and suffering of the residents in the Gaza Strip is Hamas.'
Hamas's 2023 attack resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, mostly civilians, according to a tally based on official figures.
A total of 898 Israeli soldiers have also been killed since ground troops were sent into Gaza, according to the military.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Israel's campaign in Gaza has killed at least 60,332 people in Gaza, mostly civilians, according to figures from the Hamas-run territory's health ministry, deemed reliable by the UN.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
9 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Strategic autonomy in the face of pressure
Donald Trump's re-election in 2024 was seen by some as a potential stabilising force in a world embroiled in multiple crises. On the campaign trail, Trump boldly claimed he could resolve the Russia–Ukraine conflict within 24 hours. However, those promises have not materialised. Instead, his second term has been marked by erratic decision-making that is straining US ties with key allies and partners, including India. U.S. President Donald Trump (REUTERS) Frustrated by his failure to bring Russia to the negotiating table, Trump appears to be redirecting pressure toward India. His administration has criticised New Delhi's continued purchase of Russian oil and military equipment, threatening tariffs as high as 50% and other punitive trade measures. These actions seem less about trade policy and more about using India as a lever to influence Moscow, an approach which can be viewed as a deflection from Trump's own inability to shift Putin's position. This criticism, however, reflects a stark double standard. While Washington rebukes India for its economic ties with Russia, both the US and EU continue to import critical goods from Moscow. The EU remains dependent on Russian energy, fertilisers, metals, chemicals, and machinery. The US imports uranium hexafluoride for its nuclear sector, palladium for electric vehicles, and significant volumes of Russian fertilizers and chemicals. These facts expose the selective nature of the Trump administration's pressure tactics. Trump's rhetoric accusing India of 'obnoxious' trade barriers and imposing high tariffs is part of his broader transactional foreign policy. He often uses economic tools like tariffs and sanctions to extract concessions, even from strategic partners like India. In this context, Trump's threats appear to be negotiating ploys aimed at isolating Russia by coercing India into alignment with western positions. India, however, has maintained a resilient and independent stance. Rooted in its historical commitment to strategic autonomy and non-alignment, India has prioritised its national interest over external pressure. The ministry of external affairs has reiterated that India's relationship with Russia 'stands on its own merit' and should not be evaluated through the lens of third countries. New Delhi has consistently defended its Russian oil imports as legitimate and necessary, given its 85–90% reliance on foreign crude and the economic benefits of discounted Russian oil. India further argues that its purchases have contributed to global price stability, preventing oil prices from soaring above $137 per barrel benefiting both emerging and developed economies, including the US. India's abstentions from United Nations resolutions on the Russia–Ukraine conflict reflect a pragmatic approach grounded in its long-standing, time-tested partnership with Moscow. For New Delhi, its ties with Russia and the US are not mutually exclusive. India seeks to maintain balanced relations with both, safeguarding its economic and security interests through a nuanced and independent foreign policy. While the India–Russia oil trade is expected to continue in the near-term, the two countries must work toward diversifying their trade relationship, which currently leans heavily on energy. Broader cooperation in sectors such as technology, defence manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, and critical minerals will be essential for sustaining their strategic ties in a changing geopolitical environment. India is likely to adopt a wait-and-watch approach to Trump's threats, treating them as part of a larger negotiation dynamic. Whether the proposed 25–50% tariffs materialise or not, India will factor them into its broader strategy, possibly using the Russia card as leverage in future trade discussions with the US. It is neither accurate nor constructive to view India–Russia relations through the prism of US anxieties. Framing Russia as a point of friction in US–India ties is misguided and overlooks India's consistent pursuit of independent diplomacy. The tensions reflect a deeper American expectation that India should align more closely with the West in its confrontation with Russia. Such expectations fail to appreciate the complexity of India's foreign policy calculus. China, the largest buyer of Russian crude oil and widely regarded as Washington's primary strategic adversary, has faced fewer punitive measures. In contrast, New Delhi, one of the US's most important partners in the Indo-Pacific has been singled out for criticism and targeted with tariff threats. Given Trump's unpredictability and penchant for dramatic turnarounds, it is also plausible that he might recalibrate his position. His past record suggests a tendency to pivot if offered a diplomatic win or a chance to boost his global image perhaps even with an eye on accolades like the Nobel Peace Prize. Until then, India will continue to chart its own path, guided by national interest and strategic balance. This article is authored by Pravesh Kumar Gupta, associate fellow (Eurasia), Vivekananda International Foundation, New Delhi.
Hindustan Times
9 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Trump tariffs may hit India GDP growth, put industry at wide disadvantage: Experts
In a major decision by the Trump administration, US President Donald Trump imposed an additional 25 per cent tariff on imports from India, making the total tariff against India 50 per cent. In light of this, economists feel that the move can impact India's GDP growth in EY26 by 0.4 per cent. Trump's tariffs have sparked concerns among Indian trade exporters, as the new tariff will make Indian exports more expensive in the American market.(Reuters) Sonal Badhan, Economics Specialist at Bank of Baroda, told ANI that initially, the expected impact of Trump's tariffs was at 0.2 per cent impact with a 25-26 per cent tariff imposed on India. "There appears to be downside risk to our growth forecast of 6.4-6.6 per cent if lower rates are not negotiated," she said, talking about the consequences of tariffs on growth. Further, she said that depending on the terms of the final trade agreement, the total impact of tariffs on Indian GDP can range between 0.2-0.4 per cent. Sectors including garments, precious stones, pharmaceuticals, auto parts, electronics, and MSMEs are most likely to be affected by it. Also read: Indian stock market opens in red after Donald Trump's 50% tariffs on India Meanwhile, this move has also sparked concerns among the Indian trade exports, as the new tariff will make Indian exports more expensive in the American market. Announced by the Trump administration on Wednesday, this move was taken in response to India continuing its oil imports from Russia. The executive order by Trump stated, "I find that the Government of India is currently directly or indirectly importing Russian Federation oil.' Based on this, it said that articles from India imported into the customs territory of the US will be subject to an additional 25 per cent duty. Ajay Bagga, a banking and market expert, told ANI that the steep tariff is a major blow to India. "India is now hit with 50 per cent tariffs, but frankly, once it crossed 25 per cent, it didn't matter. It could be 1,000 per cent or 5,000 per cent; there's no trade possible anymore," he said. Bagga also pointed out that with shipments already prepared, the move hits exporters hard. "If USD 1 billion worth of textile exports are halted, it directly impacts around 100,000 workers," he said. Experts also called the additional tariff unnecessary and suggested mutual dialogue to resolve political differences. "I remain hopeful that the Government of India will continue to engage and seek a balanced resolution with the US," Agneshwar Sen, Trade Policy Leader at EY India, said. The Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) also expressed concerns at the situation with President, SC Ralhan, saying that, "nearly 55 per cent of our shipments to the US market are directly affected.' He also stated that the imposed tariffs will put Indian exporters at a competitive disadvantage by 30-35 per cent. While the order imposes tariffs on most Indian imports, some items, including certain mineral substances, fuels, industrial chemicals, metallurgical ores, and pharmaceutical precursors, have been excluded.
Hindustan Times
9 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
South Korea's ex-first lady faces arrest warrant over corruption allegations
South Korean prosecutors on Thursday requested an arrest warrant for former first lady Kim Keon Hee, a day after questioning her over a litany of allegations, including bribery and stock manipulation. South Korea's former first lady Kim Keon Hee arrives at the special prosecutor's office in Seoul.(REUTERS) The move comes as former president Yoon Suk Yeol remains in detention over his declaration of martial law in December, which briefly suspended civilian rule before being overturned by parliament. "We requested an arrest warrant for Kim at 1:21 p.m. (0421 GMT)," special prosecutor Oh Jung-hee said at a press briefing. The charges include violations of capital market and financial investment laws, as well as political funds laws, she added. If granted, the warrant would mark the first time in South Korean history that a former president and first lady were both arrested. An attempt to bring former president Yoon in for questioning on Thursday over the allegations against his wife failed due to "the suspect's fierce resistance and concerns about potential injury", Oh said without elaborating. A similarly unsuccessful attempt last week saw Yoon resist by lying on his cell floor in his underwear. The request came swiftly after the 52-year-old underwent hours-long questioning the day before. "I sincerely apologise for causing trouble despite being a person of no importance," Kim said as she arrived at the prosecutors' office on Wednesday. She denied the allegations during questioning, according to local media reports. Controversy has long surrounded Kim, with lingering questions about her alleged role in stock manipulation. A video filmed in 2022 showing her accepting a Dior handbag from a self-proclaimed fan reignited public criticism. She is also accused of interfering in the nomination process for MPs in Yoon's party, a violation of election laws. Yoon, as president, vetoed three special investigation bills passed by the opposition-controlled parliament that sought to probe the allegations against Kim, with the last veto issued in late November. A week later, Yoon declared martial law. Yoon, a former top prosecutor, was impeached and removed from office in April over his martial law declaration, prompting the country to hold a snap election in June.
