Israel wants to fight on until victory

The airstrikes on the Gaza Strip continue. Criticism of Israel's military action is growing. In addition to the UN General Assembly resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire, unusually harsh accusations are now also coming from the USA. Meanwhile, Israel does not want to stop before the end of Hamas.

Amid growing international criticism of its actions in the Gaza Strip, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reaffirmed that his country will continue to fight "until victory" over Hamas. "Nothing will stop us," Netanyahu said in a video message. He also said this in the face of "international pressure", Netanyahu added: "We will continue until the end, until victory, nothing less than that."

Foreign Minister Eli Cohen reiterated that Israel would continue the war against the Islamist Palestinian organization Hamas "with or without international support". The Israeli air force continued its airstrikes on the Gaza Strip on Thursday night.

The Hamas-controlled Ministry of Health in the Palestinian territory reported at least 19 new deaths. According to the Palestinian Authority, two people were killed in Israeli attacks on the city of Jenin in the West Bank.

In view of the growing criticism of the numerous civilian victims of the military offensive in the Gaza Strip, the Israeli armed forces once again accused Hamas of abusing civilians as human shields. "Our troops have found large weapons depots and tunnels in several schools. They even discovered a sniper rifle hidden in a teddy bear," said military spokeswoman Keren Hajioff. Nevertheless, the armed forces are trying to avoid civilian casualties in their operation against Hamas. "Our war is against Hamas, not the people of Gaza," said Hajioff. "But while Hamas sees every innocent death as part of its strategy, for us every innocent death is a tragedy."

Biden sharply criticizes Israel

On Tuesday, the UN General Assembly passed a non-binding resolution in favor of an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip by a large majority. The USA, traditionally a close ally of Israel, also expressed criticism of Israel's military action in the Gaza Strip. US President Joe Biden accused Israel of "indiscriminate" bombardment of the Gaza Strip in unusually harsh terms.

White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said that Washington was "concerned" about civilian casualties and had "expressed concern about the continuation of the military operation". However, the USA was clearly aware that Hamas had started the conflict.

Biden's National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan was expected in Israel on Thursday for talks with Netanyahu. In the run-up to his trip, Sullivan had stated that Israel must reduce the intensity of its attacks.

Report: Israel uses bombs without guidance system

Meanwhile, the US news channel CNN reported, citing US intelligence information, that between 40 and 45 percent of the bombs dropped by Israel on the Gaza Strip are bombs without guidance systems. These are less accurate than precision bombs, which can aim at their target with great accuracy, and therefore potentially pose a greater danger to civilians.

Meanwhile, Hamas leader Ismail Hanijeh said in a televised address that there could be no future for the Gaza Strip without the involvement of his organization. "Any agreement in Gaza or regarding the Palestinian cause without Hamas or the resistance movements is an illusion."

Hamas on the rise

According to a new survey by the Palestinian polling institute PCPSR, 78% of people in the Palestinian territories would vote for Haniyeh. Before the war began, the figure was 58 percent. Around two thirds of those surveyed - 64 percent - also stated that they assume that Hamas will retain control of the Gaza Strip after the end of the fighting.

However, opinions differ between Palestinians in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip as to whether the Hamas attack on Israel more than two months ago was the right decision. While 82 percent in the West Bank were in favor of the attack, only 57 percent in the directly affected coastal strip were.

The war between Israel and Hamas was triggered on 7 October by a major attack on Israel by the militant Palestinian organization. Fighters from Hamas, which is classified as a terrorist organization by the USA and the EU, attacked Israel and carried out the worst attack on the country since the founding of the state 75 years ago. According to Israeli reports, 1,200 people were killed and around 240 people were taken hostage, most of them civilians.

Israel responded by bombing targets in the Gaza Strip and launching a ground offensive, announcing that it would destroy Hamas. According to the Hamas-controlled Ministry of Health, which cannot be independently verified, more than 18,600 people were killed.