The chief of the general staff of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), Eyal Zamir, warned on Thursday of an expanded military operation in Gaza if there is no progress in securing the return of hostages held by the Palestinian militant group Hamas.
“If we do not see progress in the return of the hostages, we will expand our activities into a more intense and significant operation until we reach a decisive outcome,” he said during a visit to troops in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, a military statement said.
“Hamas is mistaken about our capabilities, our intentions, and our determination,” he added.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz recently echoed similar threats, stating that the longer Hamas withholds the hostages, the more severe Israel’s strikes would become.
Katz also suggested that Israel could permanently occupy parts of the Gaza Strip.
Israeli authorities believe 24 hostages are still alive in the Gaza Strip, while Hamas and its allies hold the bodies of 35 others.
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