Netanyahu: Israel will continue to fight "until victory"
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.
On Tuesday, the UN General Assembly passed a non-binding resolution for 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.
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.
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 it was founded 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.
Meanwhile, Hamas leader Ismail Hanijeh said in a televised address on Wednesday 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."
According to a new survey by the Palestinian polling institute PCPSR, 78 percent 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% - also stated that they assume that Hamas will retain control of the Gaza Strip after the end of the fighting.
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Source: www.stern.de
