Israel will consider joining cease-fire talks with Hamas only when the militant group responds to the latest internationally mediated proposal for a temporary truce and hostage release, state-run Kan 六合彩开奖记录 reported.
Citing an unidentified political official, Kan said the Israeli government is expecting an answer from the Iran-backed militant group on Wednesday evening. Under the latest terms for a pause in hostilities, Israeli forces have agreed to withdraw from parts of Gaza, according to Kan.
Israel has been waging a military campaign against Hamas in response to the Oct. 7 invasion by militants on southern communities, in which more than 1,200 people were killed and some 250 were taken hostage. Israeli forces have laid waste to much of Gaza during the near seven-month conflict, with the ultimate aim of destroying Hamas and preventing a repeat attack.
More than 34,000 Palestinians have been killed during Israel鈥檚 air and ground assault on the strip, according to health officials in the Hamas-led territory, while many more are struggling for food and healthcare. Hamas released about 105 hostages during a November cease-fire, and it鈥檚 not known how many of the rest are still alive.
Israel has said it needs to invade the southern Gaza city of Rafah to complete the job of eliminating Hamas militants, a prospect that鈥檚 raised concern internationally due to the more than 1 million Palestinians taking refuge there. The plan remains in place regardless of whether a truce deal is agreed, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday.
鈥淭he idea that we will halt the war before achieving all of its goals is out of the question,鈥 he told a forum representing hostage families. 鈥淲e will enter Rafah and we will eliminate the Hamas battalions there 鈥 with or without a deal, in order to achieve the total victory.鈥
Under the latest cease-fire proposal, displaced Palestinians who need to return to their homes in northern Gaza after being forced to take refuge in the south won鈥檛 be inspected by Israeli forces, Kan said. Only Egypt and other countries will carry out that task.
Israel will still be allowed to 鈥渢rack鈥 Palestinians returning to northern Gaza using 鈥渙ther tools,鈥 Kan said, without giving more details.
On Monday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged leaders of Hamas, which is designated a terrorist group the U.S. and European Union, to quickly reach a decision on Israeli conditions for a temporary cease-fire.
Israel has been 鈥渆xtraordinarily generous鈥 with proposals made during talks mediated by Qatar and Egypt, Blinken said in Riyadh. He wasn鈥檛 more specific about the offer on the table.