2024-05-08 07:41:32
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the latest truce proposal by the Islamist Palestinian group Hamas falls far short of Israel‘s basic demands, Reuters reported.
Military pressure remains necessary for the return of hostages held in Gaza, Netanyahu added.
Earlier, Israeli forces took control of the Palestinian side of the Rafah border crossing that connects Egypt and Gaza. Netanyahu defined this as “a very important step towards the destruction of the remaining military capabilities of Hamas”, BTA reported.
Earlier today, the UN said that due to the closure of the Rafah border crossing, the organization has fuel for its humanitarian operations, which will only last for one day, France Press recalls.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant visited troops in the Rafah area today and said the operation would continue until Israel “destroyed” Hamas in Rafah and the rest of Gaza. But he stressed that his country was ready to make compromises to return the hostages home, the Associated Press noted.
“If that possibility is removed, we will continue and deepen the operation,” he added. “It’s going to happen all over the strip — in the south, in the center and in the north.”