Israeli Defence Minister Affirms Ongoing Gaza Operations Amid Hostage Negotiations
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Jerusalem, Dec 5 (NationPress) Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has stated that Israel is actively pursuing a hostage agreement while continuing its military offensive in Gaza.
"There is a possibility that this time we will genuinely advance a hostage deal," Katz remarked on Wednesday during a visit to the Tel Nof Airbase in central Israel, though he did not disclose further specifics about the agreement.
Israel will persist with its military actions in Gaza "until we recover all the hostages and fulfill our objectives," he mentioned, emphasizing that "in the future, Hamas must not govern Gaza. This is unequivocally clear."
Official negotiations between Israel and Hamas are currently at a standstill, with Qatar, one of the key mediators, accusing both parties of lacking genuine commitment, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
Israel has been executing a significant offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip as retaliation for a Hamas attack on the southern Israeli border on October 7, 2023, which resulted in approximately 1,200 fatalities and around 250 hostages.
Authorities in Gaza reported on Wednesday that at least 44,532 individuals have died due to over 13 months of Israeli military actions.
