By Office of Speaker Mike Johnson - X.com
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, during a public address on Tuesday evening (local time), attributed the recent escalation of the conflict to Hamas. This statement followed Israel’s military action that resulted in the deaths of over 400 individuals in Gaza, occurring after the violation of a ceasefire agreement with Hamas.
In his speech, Netanyahu justified the renewed military operations in Gaza, asserting, “Hamas is accountable for this war. They invaded our communities, killed our citizens, assaulted our women, and abducted our loved ones. Hamas has consistently rejected offers to release our hostages.”
In a video posted on his X account, Netanyahu explained that Israel had abstained from military engagement for the past two weeks, hoping for a change in Hamas’s position. However, after Hamas declined a proposal from Steve Witkoff, the special envoy of US President Donald Trump, he authorized military action against them. He emphasized, “Israel does not target Palestinian civilians; our focus is on Hamas terrorists.”
Netanyahu urged residents of Gaza to evacuate to safer locations, attributing all civilian casualties to Hamas, as reported by Reuters. He also remarked that “the airstrikes in Gaza are merely the beginning, and all ceasefire discussions will occur amidst ongoing attacks.”
Echoing Netanyahu’s sentiments, Defence Minister Israel Katz warned that if Hamas fails to release all Israeli hostages, severe consequences would follow in Gaza, stating that “Hamas’ murderers and rapists will confront the IDF [Israel Defense Forces] with unprecedented force.”
On Tuesday, the health ministry in Gaza announced that airstrikes authorized by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu resulted in the deaths of at least 404 individuals, with over 560 others injured. The majority of those killed were women and children.
As reported by The Times of India, Hamas asserted that the airstrikes claimed the lives of at least six high-ranking officials, including the leader of its civilian government and several key security leaders.
In a related development, the White House attributed the resurgence of conflict to Hamas. Brian Hughes, a spokesman for the National Security Council, indicated that Hamas had the opportunity to release hostages to prolong the ceasefire but opted instead for confrontation and warfare.
An Associated Press report, referencing an Israeli official, indicated that Israel was targeting Hamas’ military capabilities, leadership, and infrastructure. The official also mentioned plans to broaden the operation beyond airstrikes.
The official accused Hamas of reestablishing its operations and preparing for new assaults, noting that militants and security personnel had returned to the streets in recent weeks following the ceasefire. However, Hamas has denied any intentions to launch new attacks.
