Israel has refused any ceasefire in its war against Hamas as their ground forces continue to fight the Palestinian Hamas group in the Gaza strip along with aerial bombardments in response to the October 7 terror attack.
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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday a ceasefire will not happen since that would amount to surrendering to Hamas. "Calls for a ceasefire are calls for Israel to surrender to Hamas, to surrender to terrorism... this will not happen," he told a foreign briefing, vowing Israel would "fight until this battle is won". The US, an ally, too has objected to a ceasefire.
Netanyahu's government is facing mounting pressure amid a hostage situation with around 230 Israelis and foreign nationals being held captive in the Gaza Strip. Hostages remain an important political currency for the Hamas and had been a major reason for negotiations for Israel in the past.
Hamas yesterday released a video of three women who were taken hostage during their October 7 attack, the deadliest in Israel's history. Netanyahu denounced the anguished images of the three women as "cruel psychological propaganda" and vowed to do everything to bring home the kidnapped people.
In another instance, a woman soldier was freed from Gaza Strip by the Israeli army during their ground operations. "Last night, soldier Ori Megidish was released during a ground operation after being kidnapped by Hamas on October 7," Israeli army said in a statement.
Hamas had earlier freed four captives, including two US citizens, and said a ceasefire was necessary for releasing hostages. They had called for a prisoner swap deal that includes the release of all Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails in exchange for all hostages held in Gaza.
Israeli tanks were seen advancing into the fringes of Gaza City yesterday amid an intensified military operation by Israel. Tanks entered the Zaytun district on the southern fringes of Gaza City, AFP cited a witness as saying.
A German woman who was paraded naked on a pickup truck by Hamas after being kidnapped from a music festival near the Gaza border was confirmed dead yesterday. In videos shared in the immediate aftermath of Hamas attacks, Shani Louk was seen lying face down in the pickup truck.
Israel's intensified military operations in the Gaza strip has sharply heightened fears for the 2.4 million inhabitants with the UN warning that not enough aid was reaching there to meet "unprecedented humanitarian needs". The Hamas-controlled health ministry said over 8,300 have been killed in Gaza.
Israel's envoy to the UN displayed a yellow star on his chest during his Monday address at the Security Council and pledged to wear it until the members of the body condemn Hamas "atrocities". Gilad Erdan also denounced the Security Council for "staying silent" over the deadly attacks by Hamas.
Israel aims to destroy the military capabilities of Hamas after the Palestinian group launched a fierce rocket attack on October 7 and its operatives went on a rampage in Israeli border towns, killing 1,400 civilians and kidnapping hundreds others.
