“Hamas must be destroyed”
Netanyahu sets three conditions for ending the war
December 26, 2023, 4:31 p.m
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Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu announces intensive fighting against Hamas. At the same time, one of his ministers is trying to respond to criticism from the USA by presenting plans for more targeted attacks on Gaza. Natanyahu declares he is ready for peace – under three conditions.
Israel continues to use military force against the Islamist Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Hamas fired rockets again at the border area with Israel. The sirens wailed there. The humanitarian situation for hundreds of thousands of people in the Gaza Strip remains precarious. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said during a visit to troops fighting in Gaza that Israel would “deepen the fight in the coming days.” In a guest article for the “Wall Street Journal” he named three conditions for peace.
“Hamas must be destroyed, the Gaza Strip must be demilitarized and Palestinian society must be de-radicalized. These are the three conditions for peace between Israel and its Palestinian neighbors in the Gaza Strip,” he wrote. Netanyahu rejected international criticism. Israel “continues to act in full accordance with international law.” Israel is doing its best to keep the number of civilian casualties “as low as possible.”
The war was triggered by the terrorist attack by Hamas and other extremist groups on October 7th. They killed more than 1,200 people. Israel responded with massive air strikes and a ground offensive that has so far killed more than 20,600 people and injured more than 54,500, according to the Hamas-controlled health authority.
Israel’s army reports attack on 100 targets
Meanwhile, in Washington, Netanyahu’s Minister for Strategic Affairs, Ron Dermer, wanted to present plans for a new, low-intensity phase in the war, which is scheduled to begin by the end of January, the news portal “Axios” reported, citing Israeli and US officials. The US wants Israel to move to more targeted operations.
Meanwhile, the Israeli army continued its bombardment in recent days. According to the coastal strip’s health authority, which is controlled by the Islamist Hamas, at least 52 people died. According to the army, dozens of fighter jets in conjunction with ground troops attacked more than 100 targets – including tunnel shafts belonging to the Islamist Hamas and military installations. The information from the army and the Gaza Strip could not initially be independently verified.