Israel rejects a ceasefire until the radical Islamist Hamas releases all its hostages. Government spokesman Eylon Levy said this on Tuesday. He reiterated the war aims of the Jerusalem government: “The destruction of Hamas government and military capabilities in the Gaza Strip and the return of all hostages.” Earlier, the Israeli army said it had surrounded Khan Younis.
Troops surrounded the Gaza Strip’s second-largest city in the south in a wide-ranging operation on Monday and intensified fighting in the region, the army said. “The area is a major stronghold of Hamas’ Khan Younis Brigade.” Ground forces are involved in hand-to-hand combat and the air force attacks. “Dozens of terrorists” were “eliminated”.
Witnesses reported heavy fighting in Khan Younis
In early December, the Israeli army reported the encirclement of the largest city in the south of the Palestinian coastal area. According to eyewitnesses, heavy fighting recently took place between Hamas members and Israeli soldiers in the west of the city. The Palestinian aid organization Red Crescent spoke of dozens of deaths and injuries.
Khan Younis is considered a Hamas stronghold. Israel suspects that both the Islamic organization’s leadership and Israeli hostages are in the tunnel network in the area. The army had already announced an expansion of its offensive in the southern Gaza Strip on Monday.
The war was sparked by the worst massacre in Israel’s history, which Hamas terrorists and other extremist groups carried out in southern Israel on October 7. They killed 1,200 people. Israel responded with massive air strikes and a ground offensive. More than 25,000 people have been killed so far, according to the Hamas-controlled health authority.
Source: Krone
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