CAIRO/GAZA/JERUSALEM - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has affirmed his commitment to continuing the conflict in Gaza until Hamas is eradicated, disregarding global calls for a ceasefire. The defiance comes amid concerns that the hostilities could escalate, leading to clashes between U.S. and Iran-aligned forces.
During his visit to Israeli troops in northern Gaza, Netanyahu informed lawmakers from his Likud Party that the war was ongoing and dismissed speculations of a potential halt. The U.S. has been urging Israel to shift its Gaza operations to a lower-intensity phase to reduce civilian casualties.
The death toll in Gaza has risen to nearly 20,700, with 250 reported in the last 24 hours. The U.S. has faced attacks by Iran-backed militants in Iraq and Syria due to its support for Israel. In response to a drone attack on a U.S. base in Erbil, the U.S. military conducted retaliatory airstrikes in Iraq, targeting Iran-aligned Kataib Hezbollah militants.
Hezbollah's strong ties to Hamas and Islamic Jihad, another Palestinian faction backed by Iran, further complicate the situation. The ongoing conflict has prompted the U.S. military to come under attack over 100 times in Iraq and Syria.
Despite global pressure, Israel's military operations have intensified, leading to a rising death toll and increased displacement of civilians. The U.N. describes the situation as a "human chessboard," with people constantly on the move, seeking safety amid the chaos.
Palestinian health officials reported several airstrikes near Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, while an Israeli airstrike in Al-Amal neighborhood in Khan Younis resulted in seven casualties. Sunday night witnessed one of the deadliest periods in the 11-week battle between Israel and Hamas, with over 100 people killed in Israeli airstrikes.
Pope Francis condemned the loss of innocent lives in Gaza, referring to the children as the "little Jesuses of today" and criticizing Israeli strikes for causing an "appalling harvest" of civilian casualties.
Diplomatic efforts have not provided much relief, as Hamas and Islamic Jihad rejected an Egyptian proposal for a permanent ceasefire, insisting on retaining power in Gaza. The groups are believed to be holding hostages from their October 7 rampage through Israeli towns.
The situation remains dire in Gaza, with the majority of the population displaced, and the United Nations describes humanitarian conditions as catastrophic.