Israel intends to increase military pressure on the radical Palestinian movement Hamas due to the rejection of the agreement to release hostages held in the Gaza Strip. This was announced by the Prime Minister of the Jewish state, Benjamin Netanyahu, in a televised address to the nation.
“I have instructed the Israel Defense Forces to take strict measures and further increase the pressure on Hamas“, the prime minister said, commenting on the death of an Israeli soldier in Gaza, which became known shortly before he began his speech on Saturday evening.
Netanyahu said that “this weekend Hamas again rejected a proposal that could lead to the release of half of the living hostages still in Gaza and the return of the bodies of many of the dead“.
He stressed that Israel will not allow Hamas to remain in power in the enclave and will continue the war until it wins. “Hamas demands an end to the war and the preservation of its power. They also want a complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza. If we now give in to Hamas's dictates, all the colossal achievements that we have achieved thanks to our fighters, thanks to our dead, thanks to our heroic wounded - all these achievements will simply go down the drain," Netanyahu believes.
“We are at a decisive stage of the campaign, and at this stage patience and determination are needed to win. We will not end the War of Rebirth until we destroy Hamas in Gaza, until we return all our hostages and until we ensure that the Gaza Strip no longer poses a threat to Israel,” he added.
On March 18, the Israeli army renewed military operations in the Gaza Strip, launching massive strikes against the enclave, thus breaking the ceasefire established in January of this year. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office explained this by Hamas's rejection of the proposals made during the talks by mediators and the US President's special envoy Stephen Witkoff, stating that the aim of the operation was to free all hostages held in Gaza. The radicals accused Israel and the US of the renewal of hostilities.
According to the latest information from the Israeli side, the radical Palestinian movement Hamas is currently holding 24 hostages and the bodies of 35 dead prisoners in Gaza.