This was stated in a military statement released today, Saturday, where Zamir said: “In the coming days, we will know whether we can reach an agreement to free the hostages, otherwise, the battle will continue vigorously.” Zamir added that “the war continues, and we will adapt it according to the changing reality to serve our interests,” pointing out that the achievements grant his forces flexibility in carrying out military operations.
On the other hand, U.S. envoy Steve Weitkoff, during his meeting with the families of prisoners in Tel Aviv today, confirmed that the United States does not want to expand the scope of the war in Gaza but seeks to end it, emphasizing the necessity of releasing all Israeli detainees. The Israeli Chief of Staff accused unspecified parties of “orchestrating an artificial famine in Gaza,” describing it as a “deliberate plan to accuse the Israeli army of war crimes,” holding Hamas responsible for the “suffering and killing of civilians in the sector.”
The war in Gaza erupted following an attack by Hamas on Israeli settlements and military bases on October 7, 2023, resulting in the death of 1,219 people according to official data. In response, Israel launched a bloody war that is still ongoing, claiming the lives of more than 60,332 Palestinians, most of them civilians, including children, women, and the elderly, according to Gaza’s Ministry of Health.
After nearly 22 months of war, Gaza faces the threat of “total famine” according to the United Nations, with more than two million people suffering from a severe shortage of food and medicine due to the tight Israeli blockade, in one of the worst humanitarian crises in the region.
