Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised to continue with Israel’s attack. He criticized a UN resolution that called for a break in the fighting. He said the resolution made Hamas more confident and made them refuse a different proposal for peace and releasing hostages.
As the fighting continues in Gaza for six months, each side says they can win and doesn’t want outside help to stop the fighting.
Netanyahu thinks that Israel can reach its goals of breaking up Hamas and bringing back many hostages if they send more troops to the city of Rafah in the south. Rafah is where more than half of Gaza’s people are staying, and many are living in crowded tent camps.
Hamas said it will keep the hostages until Israel agrees to a long-term peace deal, removes its soldiers from Gaza, and sets free many Palestinian prisoners, including important fighters. It was announced on Monday that they turned down a recent offer because it didn’t meet their demands. If their demands were met, it would be very expensive for the other party.
Netanyahu said that Hamas does not want to keep talking about making a deal and that this announcement shows how the Security Council decision has caused harm.
“Israel will not give in to Hamas’ unrealistic demands. They will keep fighting to achieve all their goals in the war: freeing all the hostages, destroying Hamas’ military and governing abilities, and making sure Gaza can never harm Israel again. ”
The war has caused the death of more than 32,000 people in Gaza. Most of those who died were women and children. The war has destroyed a lot of Gaza Strip, forcing many people to leave and causing a lot of people to not have enough food.
A building in Rafah was hit by Israel Monday night. At least 16 people were killed, including nine children and four women. They were staying in the building because they had been forced from their homes. This information comes from hospital records and family members of the people who died. A reporter from the Associated Press saw the dead bodies being brought to a hospital.
On Monday, the Security Council made a decision to stop fighting, but the United States didn’t vote yes or no, which made Israel very upset. This caused even more tension between the two countries. The resolution says that hostages in Gaza should be set free, but it doesn’t say that the ceasefire depends on it.
Israel’s foreign minister said that the resolution made Hamas feel stronger because it signaled that international pressure would stop the war without Hamas having to give up anything.
“The message sent to Hamas yesterday is that they don’t need to rush,” Katz said.
The war started on October. In 2007, a group of militants led by Hamas invaded Israel and attacked towns in the south. They killed about 1,200 people, mostly regular people, and kidnapped about 250 others. It is thought that there are still around 100 people being kept against their will, and the bodies of 30 others, after most of the other hostages were let go in November in return for setting free some Palestinian prisoners.
The United States, Qatar, and Egypt have been trying for a few weeks to make a deal to stop fighting and to free hostages, but it seems like they are not making progress. Hamas told the mediators that it will continue to support its previous position, according to a statement it issued on Monday night.
Hamas said that Israel has not agreed to stop fighting, leave the area, let people go back home, and exchange prisoners.
Hamas has suggested a step-by-step plan. They would let all the hostages go in exchange for Israel leaving Gaza, aid and rebuilding help, and letting many Palestinian prisoners go, especially those who are leaders of violent groups.
Netanyahu promised to continue attacking Israel’s enemies after any hostages are freed. He will keep fighting until Hamas is defeated, because he believes this is the only way to stop another attack like the one in October.