Fighting Resumes in Israel-Hamas War, Israel Eliminates Key Hamas Figures
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday, after pulling out of cease-fire talks in Qatar, that freeing hostages in Gaza would be “impossible” without continuing Israel’s ground operation.
“We will continue the war until we achieve all of its goals, and it cannot be done without the expansion of the ground operation,” Netanyahu declared at a press conference at Tel Aviv’s Hakirya military base, headquarters of the Israeli military and Defense Ministry. He went on to say he had instructed the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to resume fighting “with ever-increasing intensity.”
During the seven-day cease-fire, which ended on Friday, 110 hostages were freed, including 24 foreign nationals. With an estimated 135 individuals still held captive in Gaza, the Israeli government appears to be acting with a heavy hand despite global criticism.
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IDF air and naval forces have been striking Hamas infrastructure in the Gaza Strip to eliminate terrorists and destroy Hamas’ military infrastructure. IDF Spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari announced the elimination of Hamas battalion commander Wissam Farhat, one of the masterminds of the terrorist attack on Kibbutz Nahal Oz on October 7.
“Farhat planned and sent the terrorists on October 7 to the Nahal Oz kibbutz and nearby army post, where a cruel massacre was carried out,” Hagari said.
Additionally, Farhat was also behind the 2002 Mechinat Atzmona terror attack, which killed five Israeli civilians.
On Friday, the IDF dropped leaflets warning residents of Khan Younis, the second most populated city in Gaza, to evacuate, according to Palestinian security sources.
The Hamas-run government’s media office director, Ismael Al-Thawabtehadded, said the Palestinian death toll had risen to 15,207 as of Saturday afternoon. During a press conference, Al-Thawabtehadded condemned “restrictive” policies preventing humanitarian aid from entering Gaza.
