Netanyahu Visits Northern Gaza, Vows to Intensify Offensive Against Hamas
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited northern Gaza on Tuesday, pledging to intensify military operations against Hamas until “all war objectives are achieved.”
Accompanied by Defense Minister Israel Katz and military chief Eyal Zamir, Netanyahu received a security briefing from commanders on the ground, according to a statement from his office. He praised Israeli troops for their efforts in the Gaza Strip, stating that Hamas would continue to “absorb more and more blows.”
“You are doing a remarkable job,” Netanyahu told the soldiers. “We will not stop until we have achieved all our war goals.”
Defense Minister Katz echoed Netanyahu’s remarks, emphasizing that the military would escalate pressure on Hamas until the group agrees to release all hostages and is ultimately defeated.
Continuing Strikes on Gaza
The Israeli military has continued its strikes on the Gaza Strip amidst the ongoing conflict. According to Gaza-based health authorities, an Israeli strike hit near a hospital in the Mawasi area of Khan Younis earlier in the day, resulting in casualties including medics and patients.
An Israeli military spokesperson said the strike targeted “the head of a Hamas terrorist cell and a combat zone commander,” adding that “the strike was conducted using precise munitions to mitigate harm in the area as much as possible.”
Hamas Reports Loss of Contact with Hostage Captors
Meanwhile, Hamas announced that it had “lost contact” with the captors of an Israeli-American hostage in Gaza, whose release is a focal point in Israel’s latest proposal for a ceasefire. Abu Obeida, spokesman for Hamas’s military wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, stated on social media, “We announce that we have lost contact with the group holding soldier Edan Alexander following a direct strike on their location. We are still trying to reach them at this moment.”
The Al-Qassam Brigades later released a video addressed to the families of the remaining hostages, warning that their loved ones were at risk if Israel continued its bombardment. The message, subtitled in English, Arabic, and Hebrew, cautioned: “Be prepared. Soon, your children will return in black coffins with their bodies torn apart by shrapnel from your army’s missiles.”
Hamas is believed to still hold several hostages captured during the initial stages of the conflict. Negotiations for their release remain a critical and sensitive issue in the efforts to de-escalate the situation.
