Following the renewal of its assaults on the Gaza Strip, Israel’s defense minister stated that should Hamas fail to free the captives, Israel would progressively seize additional portions of Palestinian land, incorporating them into Israeli territory.
Israel's Defense Minister, Israel Katz, stated that Israel will proceed with annexing portions of the Gaza Strip unless Hamas releases all remaining Israeli hostages currently being held in the area. This announcement was made as Israeli military operations intensified across Gaza beginning on Tuesday.
“I have instructed the IDF to take control of additional areas in Gaza,” Katz stated. “Should Hamas persist in refusing to free the captives, they will continue to forfeit land, which will then become part of Israel.”
On Friday, the Israeli military persisted with its assaults on Gaza after essentially terminating a two-month truce earlier in the week.
The health authorities in Gaza controlled by Hamas reported on Thursday that since the conflict restarted, the death toll has reached 504 individuals.
On October 7, 2023, during terrorist attacks carried out by Hamas and other militants, approximately 1,200 individuals were killed, with an additional 251 taken as hostages. As of now, 59 of these captives remain under the control of Hamas and other Palestinian militant organizations. It is believed by Israeli officials that 24 of those remaining hostages are still alive.
'Catastrophic' conditions in Gaza
Dr. Mohammed Mustafa, an Australian physician operating in Gaza, informed INSPIRATIONS DIGITAL that the medical situation in the region is "dire" following the resumption of combat operations.
He stated that we have almost no medicines remaining. Similarly, our supply of antibiotics has been depleted. We're severely short on resources, including medical devices and even fundamental items such as blood pressure monitors, tracking patients' oxygen saturation, and supplying oxygen tanks.
Mustafa also mentioned that the present lack of fuel in Gaza is making it difficult for medical teams to transport patients between hospitals, leading to complications in providing necessary care. Consequently, some individuals have unfortunately passed away due to their injuries.
Ex-hostages demand an end to the Israeli military operation
Forty individuals who were formerly held captive by Hamas along with 250 relatives of the hostages have penned an open letter urging Netanyahu’s administration to cease Israel's military actions and resume talks with Hamas aimed at freeing the leftover 59 captives.
The letter was penned with blood and tears. It was composed by our friends and family members whose loved ones lost their lives in captivity, pleading desperately: ‘End the conflict. Go back to the negotiation table and finalize an accord that ensures the release of all hostages, regardless of the price, including terminating the war,’" the message stated, emphasizing that military pressure put the surviving hostages’ lives at risk.
"The Israeli government is opting for perpetual conflict instead of attempting to rescue and release hostages, effectively condemning them to death. Such a policy is deemed criminal. You do not possess the authority to offer up 59 hostages as sacrifices," the letter stated.
Germany, France, and the UK call for a return to the ceasefire.
On Friday night, Germany, France, and the UK released a collective statement urging for an immediate cessation of hostilities.
The foreign ministers of the three European nations — known as the E3 — said they "are appalled by the civilian casualties", calling this week's resumption of Israeli airstrikes "a dramatic step backward for the people of Gaza, the hostages, their families and the entire region."
"The statement urged Israel to reinstate humanitarian access, covering essentials like water and electricity, and to guarantee pathways for medical care and provisional medical evacuations in line with international humanitarian law," it read.
The ministers additionally called upon Hamas to release the hostages "who are being brutally held captive and continuously refused liberation."
The statement further emphasized that military means would not resolve the conflict, asserting that a prolonged truce is the sole approach to achieving enduring peace.
The E3 foreign ministers likewise expressed their deep shock over the events of Wednesday at a UNOPS facility in Gaza, where one United Nations employee lost their life and multiple others sustained injuries. They have urged for a comprehensive inquiry into the matter.
Hamas is considering the U.S. proposal for a truce.
Following the directive to resume combat operations in Gaza earlier this week, Netanyahu stated that discussions regarding the subsequent phase of a truce would proceed amidst ongoing hostilities.
The Palestinian militant organization Hamas, which has been labeled as a terrorist group by Israel, the U.S., the European Union, among others, stated that they were examining a proposal presented by the American side aimed at reinstating the truce between themselves and Israel.
The latest proposal from US special envoy Steve Witkoff, referred to as a "bridging" plan, seeks to prolong the truce until April. This extension would go past the observances of Ramadan and Passover, providing additional time for both parties to work towards establishing a lasting ceasefire.
As reported by Reuters News Agency, referencing a statement from a Palestinian official, Egypt has presented a bridging proposal; however, Hamas has not responded to it yet.
Israel aims to prolong the initial stage of a ceasefire, similar to what was proposed in the bridging proposal. However, Hamas remains committed to adhering to the agreement reached by Netanyahu in January, which mandated both parties to discuss the second phase at the beginning of February; Israel mostly declined to participate in these discussions.
The second phase of the agreement reached in January involves releasing all remaining captives in return for a lasting cessation of hostilities and complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.
Netanyahu stated that Israel will remain in Gaza until Hamas is unable to regain control over the area.
Edited by: Sean Sinico and Alex Berry
Author: Karl Sexton, Felix Tamsut (along with AFP, dpa, Reuters contributions)
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