Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that military pressure on the Hamas group is working. According to him, the security cabinet has decided to intensify operations against militants in the Gaza Strip, The Jerusalem Post reports.
“It works because it works in two ways: on the one hand, it destroys the military and governmental capabilities of Hamas, and on the other hand, it creates the conditions for the release of our hostages. This is exactly what we are doing,” Netanyahu said at a government meeting on Sunday.
Operation “Power and Sword”, which Israel launched in early March, involves massive strikes against Gaza. According to the military, the Israeli army is currently engaged in combat operations in all major regions of the enclave.
Speaking about the future of Gaza after the end of the conflict, Netanyahu said that “Hamas will lay down its arms and its leaders will be allowed to leave the territory”. He also noted that Israel would ensure overall security in Gaza and work to implement the Trump Plan for voluntary emigration.
Meanwhile, the relatives of the hostages who are still in captivity were sceptical about the prime minister’s statement. “If Netanyahu really cared about the hostages, they would be home by now,” said Einav Zangauker, the mother of one of the detainees. She stressed that the military pressure relied on by the government has already led to the deaths of 41 hostages in captivity.
