Netanyahu
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared on Saturday that Israel retains the right to resume military operations in Gaza if the ceasefire agreement’s next phase proves ineffective. “If we must return to fighting, we will do so in new, forceful ways,” Netanyahu said in a video statement.
He added that both former U.S. President Donald Trump and current President Joe Biden have expressed their full support for Israel’s right to re-engage militarily if negotiations in the second phase of the ceasefire fail.
Earlier on Saturday, Israel ratified a ceasefire deal with Hamas, the governing authority in Gaza, aiming to halt a 15-month-long war that has devastated the region.
The agreement includes provisions for the release of hostages held by Hamas in exchange for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli custody. However, Netanyahu stated that the ceasefire would not proceed unless Hamas delivers a list of hostages designated for release.
Despite the agreement, Israeli forces continued military operations in Gaza ahead of the ceasefire’s scheduled start on Sunday. Residents reported heavy shelling in the Zeitoun neighborhood of Gaza City, along with airstrikes in central and southern Gaza.
Medical officials in Gaza confirmed that five individuals were killed in an airstrike targeting a tent in the Mawasi area near Khan Younis.
The Israeli military reported striking 50 “terror targets” across Gaza since Friday, targeting Hamas and Islamic Jihad fighters.
According to the Palestinian Civil Emergency Service, at least 123 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks since the ceasefire deal was announced on Wednesday.
The ongoing conflict has exacted a heavy toll, with over 47,000 Palestinians killed since the war began, according to the Palestinian health ministry.
The war, triggered by Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on southern Israel, has also claimed the lives of 1,200 Israelis and resulted in over 250 hostages taken by Hamas. Israeli casualties in Gaza include more than 400 soldiers.
The ceasefire agreement marks a critical juncture, offering a brief reprieve in a region scarred by extensive loss of life and destruction. However, Netanyahu’s remarks underscore the fragility of the truce and Israel’s readiness to return to combat if the deal falters.
