Israel ‘not successful in destroying Hamas’: Israeli lawmaker
Israel is now “unable to subdue Hamas”, according to Likud lawmaker Amit Halevi, who was quoted by the Israeli media outlet Yedioth Ahronoth.
“We have been fighting a war for 20 months with failed plans and Israel is not successful in destroying Hamas. We knew in all wars how to subjugate our enemies, but we are now unable to subdue Hamas.
“This is a war of deception and they lied to us regarding their accomplishments.”
Captives’ families call for return of ‘all in one deal’
Israeli media, citing some social media users, report they received phone calls from unknown numbers with recorded messages of captives held in Gaza asking for help to be released, with the sounds of explosions in the background.
In a statement, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum said it had nothing to do with the phone calls.
“We emphasise that the conversations and recordings are not on behalf of [us],” the group representing captive families said on X.
“The people of Israel are in favour of return of all the abductees and ending the war,” it added, calling on the government “to fulfil the will of the people and return them all in one deal. 596 days that the kidnapped have been crying out”.
Separately, Israeli media are reporting demonstrations outside the residences of the Israeli president and the chairman of the Knesset Security Committee, demanding a captive exchange deal.
