Israel orders military to ‘seize more ground’ in Gaza if Hamas doesn’t launch hostages | EUROtoday

Israel’s defence minister has informed the army to “seize additional areas in Gaza” and threatened to completely occupy components of it if Hamas doesn’t free all remaining hostages.

Israel Katz stated that the army would proceed its floor operation in Gaza “with increasing intensity” till the entire hostages “both living and dead” have been returned.

“We will intensify the fighting with strikes from the air, sea and land and by expanding the ground manoeuvre until the hostages are released and Hamas is defeated,” Mr Katz stated. “The more Hamas continues its refusal to release the kidnapped, the more territory it will lose to Israel”.

It is believed that there are 59 hostages nonetheless held in Gaza, however a big quantity are regarded as useless. The warfare inside Gaza was triggered by an assault by Hamas inside Israel on 7 October 2023, throughout which round 1,200 folks have been killed and one other 250 folks taken hostage. Israel’s retaliatory offensive in Gaza has killed 49,000 Palestinians in keeping with the enclave’s well being ministry and compelled 90 per cent of its 2.3 million residents from their properties.

A short lived, first part of a ceasefire ended firstly of this month. The truce agreed to in mid-January was a three-phase plan meant to result in a long-term cessation of hostilities, a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and the return of all hostages taken by Hamas.

But Israel and Hamas couldn’t overcome variations over phrases for launching the second part. Israel has accused Hamas of rejecting proposals to increase the ceasefire. Hamas has stated it’s “engaging with the mediators with full responsibility and seriousness”. Hamas stated on Friday it was reviewing a US proposal to revive the ceasefire.

After two months of relative calm, Gazans have been once more fleeing for his or her lives after Israel launched a brand new, all-out air and floor marketing campaign in opposition to Hamas on Tuesday, after halting all support deliveries into the slim coastal enclave. Around 600 folks have been killed for the reason that bombing marketing campaign restarted, in keeping with the Health Ministry within the Hamas-run Strip.

open picture in gallery

It comes as Israel’s Supreme Court issued a short lived injunction on Friday, briefly freezing the dismissal of the pinnacle of the home intelligence service.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu introduced final week that he had misplaced confidence in Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar and supposed to dismiss him, prompting tens of 1000’s to hitch demonstrations in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv this week protesting the sacking, which critics noticed as an try and undermine key state establishments.

The Israeli authorities voted unanimously to approve the Shin Bet chief’s elimination on Thursday evening, the prime minister’s workplace stated in a press release. “Ronen Bar will conclude his duties on 10 April 2025 or when a permanent ISA Director is appointed – whichever comes first,” Mr Netanyahu’s workplace stated.

open picture in gallery

But the brand new ruling will enable the Supreme Court to contemplate petitions launched in opposition to the dismissal, with a choice no later than 8 April, a press release from the court docket stated.

The anti-Netanyahu protesters joined forces with protesters offended in regards to the determination to renew preventing in Gaza.

“We’re very, very worried that our country is becoming a dictatorship,” Rinat Hadashi, 59, informed Reuters in Jerusalem on Thursday.

“They’re abandoning our hostages, they’re neglecting all the important things for this country.”

open picture in gallery

Police turned water cannons on the protesters on Thursday and arrested a number of in Tel Aviv after a scuffle between demonstrators and police, whereas the prime minister’s residence in Jerusalem was closed after protesters tried to interrupt by means of safety cordons.

Shin Bet, which has been led by Mr Bar since 2021, is answerable for counterterrorism efforts throughout Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories and the safety of Israeli officers.

Mr Bar had already introduced his determination to step down early and take duty for one of many largest failings of home intelligence, the place Shin Bet failed to forestall the Hamas assault.

The dismissal of Mr Bar adopted greater than two years of hostility between Netanyahu supporters and parts of the safety and defence institution, which was worsened by blame over the failures that led to 7 October 2023.

Mr Netanyahu, with a safe majority in parliament and bolstered by the return of hardline National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, has been capable of brush off the protests, however they underline divisions in Israeli society which have deepened since his return to energy on the finish of 2022.

Reuters and the Associated Press contributed to this report