Jerusalem: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited northern Gaza, vowing to intensify military operations against Hamas until "all war objectives are achieved". Accompanied by Defense Minister Israel Katz and military chief Eyal Zamir, Netanyahu received a security briefing from commanders at the site, according to a statement from his office.
The visit this week came as Gaza-based health authorities reported that the death toll from the 18-month Israeli offensive had surpassed 51,000, IANS reported, citing Xinhua news agency. Netanyahu praised Israeli troops for what he called "a remarkable job" in the Gaza Strip and said Hamas would continue to "absorb more and more blows."
Meanwhile, the Israeli military has been continuing its attacks on the Strip. According to Gaza-based health authorities, an Israeli strike hit a gate of the hospital in Khan Younis's Mawasi area earlier in the day, killing at least one medic and injuring nine other patients and medics.
Earlier, Hamas said that Israel has offered a 45-day ceasefire if it releases half of the remaining hostages held in Gaza. A Hamas official told AFP that Israel had also demanded that the Palestinian militants disarm to secure an end to the Gaza war.
Militants took 251 hostages during the October 7, 2023, attacks that set off the war. Some 58 are still held in Gaza, including 34 the Israeli military says are dead.
