By E. Thompson
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to continue striking the Gaza town of Rafah despite ongoing negotiations for the release of an Israeli soldier captured by Hamas militants in a cross-border raid last week.
Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Netanyahu said that the military operation in Rafah was necessary to protect our citizens and to restore deterrence against Hamas. He vowed to continue the operation until all the tunnels have been destroyed and the terrorist infrastructure has been wiped out.
The Israeli military has been conducting a massive air and ground offensive in Rafah since Friday, targeting the town’s vast network of smuggling tunnels and Hamas militants.
Dozens of Palestinians have been killed and hundreds more injured in the operation, including women and children.
The United Nations has called for an immediate ceasefire, warning that the violence is causing a catastrophic humanitarian crisis. But Netanyahu has rejected the call, saying that the military operation will continue until its objectives have been achieved.
The Israeli government has also refused to halt the airstrikes despite the ongoing negotiations for the release of the captured soldier, Gilad Shalit.
Hamas has said that it is willing to release Shalit in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.
But Netanyahu has refused to accept the demand, saying that he will not negotiate with terrorists.
The continued violence has raised concerns that the negotiations for Shalit’s release could collapse.
If the talks fail, it is likely that the fighting in Gaza will intensify, leading to even more Palestinian casualties.
The following is a list of some of the most significant developments in the Rafah offensive:
- The Israeli military has killed more than 50 Palestinians in the offensive, most of them civilians.
- The United Nations has called for an immediate ceasefire, warning that the violence is causing a catastrophic humanitarian crisis.
- The Israeli government has refused to halt the airstrikes despite the ongoing negotiations for the release of the captured soldier, Gilad Shalit.
- Hamas has said that it is willing to release Shalit in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.
- Netanyahu has refused to accept the demand, saying that he will not negotiate with terrorists.
- The continued violence has raised concerns that the negotiations for Shalit’s release could collapse.
- If the talks fail, it is likely that the fighting in Gaza will intensify, leading to even more Palestinian casualties.
Kind regards E. Thompson.
