Israel will ramp up military and political pressure on Hamas in the coming days, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.
In a video address on the eve of the major Jewish holiday of Passover, he declared, “In the coming days, we will intensify military and political pressure on Hamas because this is the only way to release our hostages and secure our victory.”
He mentioned that there are currently 133 Israelis being held captive in the Gaza Strip. According to him, Hamas still rejects any and all offers for their release.
Israel Won’t Relent
“Hamas is trying to sow discord among us, not retreat from its extreme positions. The pressure being applied to the Israeli government is providing it with energy.
“Consequently, it only makes things more difficult for our abducted citizens to return. For this reason, we will hit it with more severe blows.”
Jerrymusa.com reports that on october 7, a surprise incursion by militants from the radical Palestinian organisation Hamas, which is based in the Gaza Strip, killed many Israeli kibbutz residents who were living close to the Gaza border and abducted over 240 Israelis, including women, children, and the elderly. This incident sparked renewed tensions in the Middle East.
Israel announced a complete blockade of the Gaza Strip, initiated ground operations against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, and bombarded the enclave as well as certain regions of Lebanon and Syria. West Bank residents have also reported clashes.
Late in November 2023, Hamas declared that a humanitarian truce would last for four days in the Gaza Strip, starting on November 24. The agreement was mediated by Egypt and Qatar.
The ceasefire was repeatedly extended by the parties, but on December 1st, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) announced that Hamas had broken the truce in Gaza and had begun firing into Israeli territory.
This led to the IDF resuming combat operations in the Gaza Strip. Israel claims that during the ceasefire, up to 110 hostages were freed.