The Israel Defense Forces is expanding its military operations in the Gaza Strip, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday, calling the decision "the only way to destroy Hamas and free the hostages."
"Citizens of Israel, we are expanding military operations in the Gaza Strip. We will continue the war until Hamas is completely defeated. This is the only way to return our abducted citizens, destroy Hamas and ensure that Gaza will no longer be a threat to Israel," Netanyahu said in an address posted on social media.
The operation will take time, but Israel is "determined to fight to the end," he added.
On October 7, Palestinian movement Hamas launched a large-scale rocket attack against Israel from the Gaza Strip, while its fighters breached the border, opening fire on the military and civilians. As a result, over 1,200 people in Israel were killed and some 240 others abducted. Israel launched retaliatory strikes, ordered a complete blockade of Gaza and launched a ground incursion into the Palestinian enclave with the declared goal of eliminating Hamas fighters and rescuing the hostages. Over 20,000 people have been killed so far in Gaza as a result of Israeli strikes, local authorities said.
On November 24, Qatar mediated a deal between Israel and Hamas on a temporary truce and the exchange of some of the prisoners and hostages, as well as the delivery of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip. The ceasefire was extended several times and expired on December 1.
