Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu introduced once more Saturday that Israel has “no selection” however to proceed combating in Gaza and won’t finish the warfare earlier than destroying Hamas, releasing the hostages and making certain that the territory received’t current a risk to Israel.
The prime minister additionally repeated his vow to ensure Iran by no means will get a nuclear weapon.
Netanyahu is beneath rising stress at dwelling not solely from households of hostages and their supporters but in addition from reservist and retired Israeli troopers who query the continuation of the warfare after Israel shattered a ceasefire final month. In his assertion, he claimed that Hamas has rejected Israel’s newest proposal to free half the hostages for a continued ceasefire.
The prime minister spoke after Israeli strikes killed greater than 90 folks in 48 hours, Gaza’s Well being Ministry stated Saturday. Israeli troops have been growing their assaults to stress Hamas to launch the hostages and disarm.
Kids and girls had been among the many 15 folks killed in a single day, in keeping with hospital employees.
No less than 11 folks had been killed within the southern metropolis of Khan Younis, a number of of them in a tent within the Muwasi space the place tons of of hundreds of displaced individuals are staying, hospital employees stated. Israel has designated it as a humanitarian zone.
Palestinians mourn over the physique of Kinan Edwan, 2 years previous, killed in an Israeli military airstrike, throughout his funeral in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, Saturday, April 19, 2025.
AP Photograph/Abdel Kareem Hana
Mourners cradled and kissed the faces of the lifeless. A person stroked a toddler’s brow together with his finger earlier than physique baggage had been closed.
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“Omar is gone … I want it was me,” one brother cried out.
4 different folks had been killed in strikes in Rafah metropolis, together with a mom and her daughter, in keeping with the European Hospital, the place the our bodies had been taken.
Afterward Saturday, an Israeli airstrike on a gaggle of civilians west of Nuseirat in central Gaza killed one individual, in keeping with Al-Awda Hospital.
Israel’s army in a press release stated it killed greater than 40 militants over the weekend. Individually, it stated a soldier was killed Saturday in northern Gaza and confirmed it was the primary soldier loss of life since Israel resumed the warfare on March 18.
Israel has vowed to accentuate assaults throughout Gaza and occupy indefinitely massive “safety zones” contained in the small coastal strip of over two-million folks. Hamas needs Israeli forces to withdraw from the territory.
Israel additionally has blockaded Gaza for the previous six weeks, once more barring the entry of meals and different items.
This week, support teams raised the alarm, saying hundreds of youngsters have turn into malnourished and most of the people are barely consuming one meal a day as shares dwindle, in keeping with the United Nations.
On Friday, the pinnacle of the World Well being Group’s jap Mediterranean workplace, Dr. Hanan Balkhy, urged the brand new U.S. ambassador in Israel, Mike Huckabee, to push the nation to raise Gaza’s blockade so medicines and different support can enter.
“I would need for him to go in and see the scenario firsthand,” she stated.
The warfare started when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing about 1,200 folks, principally civilians, and abducting 251. Many of the hostages have been launched in ceasefire agreements or different offers. Hamas at present holds 59 hostages, 24 of them believed to be alive.
Israel’s offensive has since killed over 51,000 Palestinians, principally girls and kids, in keeping with Gaza’s Well being Ministry, which doesn’t distinguish between civilians and combatants.
The warfare has destroyed huge elements of Gaza and most of its meals manufacturing capabilities. Round 90 per cent of the inhabitants is displaced, with tons of of hundreds of individuals residing in tent camps and bombed-out buildings.
Frustration has been rising on each side, with uncommon public protests towards Hamas in Gaza and continued weekly rallies in Israel urgent the federal government to achieve a deal to deliver all hostages dwelling.
–with information from The Related Press’ Jamey Keaten
© 2025 The Canadian Press
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