Fear and condemnation in Gaza as Israel threatens to resume war

Israel has threatened to resume “intense fighting” successful Gaza if captives are not released this weekend, portion Hamas insists it remains committed to the ceasefire woody and accuses Israel of violating it.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, “If Hamas does not instrumentality our hostages by Saturday noon, the ceasefire volition end, and the IDF [Israeli military] volition resume aggravated warring until Hamas is decisively defeated.”

His menace echoed that of US President Donald Trump who connected Monday said “hell” would interruption escaped if Hamas failed to merchandise “all” Israeli captives by Saturday.

A Hamas authoritative quoted by Reuters quality bureau said the captives could beryllium brought location lone if the ceasefire was respected, dismissing the “language of threats” by Trump.

“Trump indispensable retrieve determination is an statement that indispensable beryllium respected by some parties, and this is the lone mode to bring backmost the prisoners. The connection of threats has nary worth and lone complicates matters,” elder Hamas authoritative Sami Abu Zuhri said.

The anticipation of a resumption of warring successful Gaza has triggered wide-scale condemnation and fearfulness among Palestinians. In Israel’s 15-month onslaught connected Gaza, astatine slightest 48,219 Palestinians person been confirmed killed and 111,665 wounded, according to Gaza’s Ministry of Health.

The Gaza Government Media Office has updated the decease toll to astatine slightest 61,709 due to the fact that astir 14,000 missing radical trapped nether the rubble of Gaza’s buildings are present presumed dead.