Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu called for Hamas operatives to lay down their arms, saying the
Palestinian group’s end was near, as the war in the Gaza Strip raged more than
two months after it commenced.
“The war is still ongoing but it is the
beginning of the end of Hamas. I say to the Hamas terrorists: It’s over. Don’t
die for (Yahya) Sinwar. Surrender now,” said Netanyahu in a statement,
referring to the chief of Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
“In the past few days, dozens of Hamas
terrorists have surrendered to our forces,” said Netanyahu.
The military has, however, not released
proof of operatives surrendering, and Hamas has rejected such claims.
Almost one month ago, Israel’s Defence
Minister Yoav Gallant said Hamas had “lost control” of Gaza.
Hamas triggered the conflict with the
deadliest-ever attack on Israel on October 7 in which it killed around 1,200
people, according to Israeli figures, and dragged around 240 hostages back to
Gaza.
Israel has responded with a relentless
military offensive that has reduced much of Gaza to rubble and killed at least
17,997 people, mostly women and children, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry.
AFP
