After Hamas rejects further hostage negotiations, large rocket barrage targets Tel Aviv area
Hamas reportedly seeking long-term ceasefire, Netanyahu says ‘continuing until Hamas eliminated’
The Hamas terror organization recently rejected an Israeli offer for a one-week temporary ceasefire in exchange for the release of dozens of hostages still captive by Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad in Gaza.
Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh, visited Cairo this week for talks about the Israeli offer but ultimately turned down the proposal. According to Israel's N12 news outlet, Hamas will not enter negotiations until there is a minimum two-week ceasefire. Other reports say the group wants a permanent ceasefire, which Israeli officials rejected out of hand.
According to a report in the Wall Street Journal, Israel was seeking the release of 40 hostages, including all of the remaining women and children held in captivity in Gaza. Israel was also seeking the release of several elderly men who need medical treatment for pre-existing conditions.
In return for the hostages' release, Israel was willing to halt all IDF combat operations in the Gaza Strip for one week. Hamas refused the offer in an apparent attempt to pressure Israel for even more concessions.
With recent reports of Israeli troops advancing in the northern and southern Gaza Strip, and recent remarks by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claiming that military force could bring Hamas back to the negotiating table, it is not clear whether Israel is willing to make concessions.
On Wednesday, Netanyahu said, “We are continuing the war to the end. It will continue until Hamas is eliminated – until victory.”
Netanyahu also reiterated his claim that freeing the hostages was one of the prime goals of the military operation.
“Whoever thinks that we will stop is detached from reality. We will not stop the fighting until all of the goals that we have set are achieved: The elimination of Hamas, the release of our hostages and the removal of the threat from Gaza.”
The WSJ also reported that negotiations were set to include Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) for the first time, which corroborates Hamas' claims that not all of the hostages are under its control.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said: “Khan Younis has become the new capital of terror. We will not let up in our action there until we get to the senior leaders of this murderous organization Hamas.”
He made the statement on Tuesday, before Hamas rejected Israel's offer.
A large rocket barrage was launched toward the Tel Aviv area by Hamas early on Thursday afternoon, an apparent demonstration of the terror groups willingness and capability to continue the fight despite the IDF’s recent gains.
N12 news reported about 30 rockets launched from Gaza during the barrage, which marked one of the largest volleys fired in recent weeks, as the terror group's launch abilities appeared to have been compromised by recent IDF gains in the northern and southern Gaza Strip.
Magen David Adom emergency services said that despite a couple of impacts, there were no casualties reported, only shrapnel damage to several buildings and vehicles.
We recommend to read:
The All Israel News Staff is a team of journalists in Israel.
