There won’t be a truce in Gaza until Hamas is “eliminated,” according to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is at odds with Israeli forces in Palestinian territory.
“We won’t stop fighting until we’ve achieved all the objectives we’ve set ourselves: the elimination of Hamas, the release of our hostages and the end of the threat from Gaza,” Netanyahu said in a statement.
His comments followed Ismail Haniyeh, the leader of Hamas, visiting Cairo on Wednesday to hold discussions with Abbas Kamel, the head of Egyptian intelligence, on the possibility of a Gaza truce.
After two earlier votes were postponed due to disagreements over phrasing, the UN Security Council was scheduled to vote later on Wednesday on a resolution advocating for a pause in the fighting, according to diplomatic sources who spoke with AFP.
Netanyahu, however, said Israeli forces were attacking Hamas militants “everywhere” in Gaza.
“Anyone who thinks we will stop is not connected to reality … We are attacking Hamas with fire – an inferno,” he said.
“We also attackacking their accomplices near and far.”