- विज्ञापन -
Jerusalem: Israel’s Defence Minister, Israel Katz, has issued a strong warning that military operations in Gaza will escalate if Hamas does not reach a hostage agreement “soon.” In his statement, Katz emphasized that if Hamas fails to facilitate the release of Israeli hostages, they will face unprecedented military strikes. He asserted that Israel’s military efforts against militant positions in Gaza would increase until the hostages are released and Hamas is dealt with.
Negotiations mediated by Qatar, Egypt, and the US are currently stalled over several critical issues, including the continuation of a ceasefire. Hamas is looking to extend the truce, while Israel insists on its right to resume military actions if it perceives any security threats. A major point of contention is Hamas’s demand for the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, which Israel opposes, citing the need for ongoing military presence to ensure security.
The conflict escalated after the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in the abduction of around 250 civilians and soldiers, with about 100 still believed to be held in Gaza. The subsequent Israeli military response has severely impacted the Gaza Strip, leading to significant destruction, widespread hunger, disease, and at least 45,540 reported deaths, according to local health officials.
On December 29, the Israeli military reported that fighters in Gaza launched approximately five rockets towards southern Israel, triggering air raid sirens in Sderot and nearby areas. Fortunately, no injuries were reported. The military noted that two of the rockets were intercepted by the Iron Dome system, while the others likely landed in open areas. This incident followed another similar attack the previous day, with long-range rockets fired from Gaza towards the Jerusalem area, which were also intercepted.
