Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called on Hamas militants this Sunday to lay down their weapons and affirmed that the end of the Islamist group is near, more than two months after the start of the war in the Gaza Strip.
“The war continues, but it is the beginning of the end for Hamas. I say to the Hamas terrorists: it’s over. Don’t die for (Yahya) Sinwar. Surrender now,” Netanyahu declared, referring to the leader. of Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
“In recent days, dozens of Hamas terrorists have surrendered to our forces,” he added. Almost a month ago, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant claimed that Hamas had “lost control” of Gaza.
Izzat al-Rishq, a senior member of Hamas’s political bureau, said history “will remember Gaza as the clearest victory” of Palestinian militants. “The end of the occupation has already begun in Gaza,” he also stated.
The air, land and naval forces of the Israeli army have intensified attacks in the Gaza Strip, where since the beginning of the offensive 17,997 people have died and 49,229 have been injured, most of them children, women and the elderly, according to data from the Strip. from Gaza. Ministry of Health, controlled by Hamas.
Today, Israeli artillery forces operated inside the Palestinian enclave for the first time since the start of the war, more than two months ago, and fighting took place across virtually the entire territory.
The war broke out after a Hamas attack on October 7, which included the launching of thousands of rockets and the infiltration of some 3,000 militants into Israeli territory, which killed, according to Israeli authorities, about 1,200 people and killed more than two hundred hostages. .
Since then, the Israeli army has carried out a relentless military offensive against the Palestinian enclave, which only ceased during a seven-day ceasefire – from November 24 to 30 – brokered by Qatar, Egypt and the United States, which included the release of 105 hostages. held by Hamas in exchange for 240 Palestinians held in Israeli prisons.
The Islamist group warned today that none of the hostages will be released unless Israel agrees to exchange them for Palestinian prisoners in Israel.
Also today, the Israeli Government rejected a proposal to allow Palestinian workers from the West Bank to enter the country, banned since October 7, with consequences for Israel’s economy.
Far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said all ministers except Agriculture Minister Avi Dichter voted against the proposal.
The agricultural sector is the most affected by labor shortages since the start of the war, mainly due to the absence of Palestinian workers.
Israeli farms were left without between 10,000 and 20,000 Palestinian workers, who crossed the West Bank border to work in Israeli fields until the start of hostilities between Israel and Hamas.
Source: TSF
