Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to keep fighting in Gaza until Hamas is destroyed, defying global calls for a ceasefire amid concerns the conflict could spread with U.S. and Iran-aligned forces again attacking each other.
Netanyahu, who visited Israeli troops in northern Gaza on Monday, told lawmakers from his Likud Party that the war was far from over and dismissed what he cast as media speculation his government might call a halt to the fighting.
He said Israel would not succeed in freeing its remaining hostages held by Hamas without applying military pressure, insisting that his conditions for peace remains complete destruction of Hamas, demilitarization of Gaza and deradicalization of the Palestinian society.
According to Gaza health authorities, nearly 20,700 Gazans have been killed, including 250 in the last 24 hours, with U.S. forces also coming under attack by Iran-backed militants in Iraq and Syria over their backing of Israel in its war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
