On Thursday, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant revealed Israel’s plans for the next phase of its war in Gaza, as he said that it intends to follow a new, more targeted approach in the northern part of the Strip and a continued pursuit of Hamas leaders in the south.
He said in a statement that after the war, Hamas will not return to control Gaza, which is scheduled to be administered by Palestinian bodies as long as there is no threat to Israel.
He stated that Israel would maintain freedom of operations, but there would be no Israeli civilian presence.
Gallant indicated that the Israeli army in the northern Gaza Strip “will move to a new combat approach that includes attacks, tunnel destruction, air and ground activities, and special operations.”
He added that in the southern region of the Gaza Strip, operational efforts are focused on eliminating the Hamas leadership and enabling the return of the hostages, and this will continue as long as necessary.
The spokesman for the Ministry of Health in Gaza said in a statement on Thursday that 22,438 Palestinians were killed and 57,614 others were injured in Israeli raids on Gaza since October 7.
Israel has pledged to eliminate Hamas, which rules Gaza, following the movement’s cross-border attack on October 7, which Israel says killed 1,200 people and took about 240 hostages.
In addition, US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters that the top US diplomat, Anthony Blinken, will travel, on Thursday, to spend a week making diplomatic efforts regarding the Israeli war in Gaza, and will visit Israel and the West Bank, in addition to Turkey, Greece, Jordan, Qatar, the UAE and Saudi Arabia. And Egypt this week.
The visit comes amid growing fears that the conflict, which has been ongoing for nearly three months, will expand beyond Gaza, to include the Israeli-occupied West Bank, Hezbollah forces on the Lebanese-Israeli border, and shipping lanes in the Red Sea.
Miller stated in a regular press briefing that Blinken will discuss specific steps that parties in the region can take to prevent the conflict from expanding.
He added, “It is not in anyone’s interest, neither Israel nor the region nor the world, for the scope of this conflict to expand beyond Gaza.”
Miller added that Blinken will also discuss taking immediate measures to increase the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza and efforts to return the remaining hostages held by the Hamas movement.
#Israeli #Defense #Minister #reveals #phase #Gaza #war
2024-01-04 20:50:38
