Synopsis
On April 16, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited northern Gaza, reiterating his commitment to intensify military actions against Hamas until all objectives are met, amidst a rising death toll and ongoing hostilities.Key Takeaways
- Netanyahu pledges to intensify military operations against Hamas.
- Israeli death toll from the conflict exceeds 51,000.
- Defence Minister Katz supports military escalation until hostages are released.
- Israeli strikes continue in Gaza, targeting Hamas leaders.
- Netanyahu opposes Palestinian statehood, warns of terrorism risks.
Jerusalem, April 16 (NationPress) The Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, made a visit to northern Gaza, pledging to boost military operations against Hamas until "all war objectives are met."
He was joined by Defence Minister Israel Katz and military chief Eyal Zamir, where they received a security briefing from commanders on site, as per a statement from his office.
This visit occurred as health authorities in Gaza reported that the death toll from the ongoing Israeli campaign had exceeded 51,000, according to the Xinhua news agency.
Netanyahu commended Israeli forces for what he deemed "an impressive job" in the Gaza Strip, asserting that Hamas would continue to "sustain more and more hits."
Defence Minister Katz supported his remarks, indicating that the military would heighten its pressure on Hamas until the group consents to release hostages and is ultimately defeated.
Meanwhile, the Israeli military has persisted with its strikes on the Strip.
As reported by Gaza-based health authorities, an Israeli attack struck a gate at the hospital in the Mawasi district of Khan Younis earlier in the day, resulting in the death of at least one medic and injuries to nine other patients and medics.
An Israeli military spokesperson informed Xinhua that the strike aimed at "the leader of a Hamas terrorist cell and a combat zone commander."
"The strike was executed using precise munitions to lessen damage in the vicinity as much as possible," the spokesperson noted.
Earlier on Tuesday, Israeli Prime Minister conveyed to French President Emmanuel Macron his opposition to the creation of a Palestinian state, reaffirming his long-standing stance amid growing international backing for a two-state resolution.
During a phone conversation, Netanyahu communicated his "strong opposition" to Palestinian statehood, labeling it "a substantial reward for terrorism," according to a statement from his office.
He cautioned that a Palestinian state established "just minutes" away from Israeli cities would become "a stronghold of Iranian terrorism," adding that "a significant majority of the Israeli public firmly opposes it."
