Israel’s Katz vows to resume Gaza war with ‘unseen intensity’
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz threatened to restart the war on Gaza with “unseen intensity” if efforts to release Israeli captives fail.
Katz promised to return all the captives, including those killed “by the vile people in the Gaza Strip”, according to The Times of Israel.
“The ceasefire agreement with the murderous Hamas and the heavy prices Israel paid, and is willing to continue to pay, within its implementation, are intended to bring about the rapid release of all living Israeli hostages, who are held under the most severe conditions in Gaza, and to bring all of the hostages who are not alive for burial in Israel,” Katz was quoted as saying.
“One thing is clear — the fighting will end in two clear achievements: the release of all of our hostages and the defeat of Hamas.”
PM Netanyahu ‘in difficulties internally’ over restarting Gaza war
Meron Rapoport, editor of the Local Call news site in Tel Aviv, says that while the Israeli government is downplaying the direct contact between Hamas and the Trump administration, the discussions are important.
“We have to remember Israel has been dialoguing with Hamas for many years but not directly, always through intermediaries. Direct talks are an interesting development, and I think Israel is viewing it with quiet concern,” Rapaport told Al Jazeera.
Despite the Gaza ceasefire now stalled with Israel refusing to enter its second phase, the Israeli government appears to be reluctant to restart the fighting, he said, noting only 9 percent of the Israeli public in a recent poll wanted to go back to war.
“It did not go further than this blockade and did not really go back into bombing as some may have feared. Prime Minister Netanyahu knows he’s in difficulties internally, and if the US is conducting negotiations with Hamas behind the scenes, it makes things even more difficult.”
Hamas continuing negotiations on remaining stages of ceasefire deal
Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem says the group is still in contact with negotiators to push for the implementation of the remaining stages of the ceasefire agreement in Gaza.
Qassem told Al Jazeera Arabic that the Palestinian group wants Israel to engage in negotiations on the second phase of the agreement, which Hamas remained committed to. Israel has so far refused, saying it wants all its living captives out first.
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