Israel Netanyahu announces increase in Gaza attacks
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced a progressive increase in the massive attacks on Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip. "We have resumed the fight with all our might", Netanyahu said in a video broadcast. "From now on, negotiations will only be conducted under fire", said the head of government.
18.03.2025, 20:39
SDA
Commenting on the night's attacks, which left more than 400 dead, Netanyahu said: "This is just the beginning." Israel would continue to fight against the Islamist Hamas until all war aims had been achieved. These are the return of all hostages, the destruction of Hamas and ensuring that Gaza can no longer pose a threat to Israel.
Concern for hostages
Netanyahu said that he felt for the relatives of the hostages still being held in the Gaza Strip. Everything was being done to secure the release of the hostages. Israel had accepted mediation offers from US envoy Steve Witkoff, but Hamas had rejected them.
Military pressure was a condition for the release of further hostages, Netanyahu said. However, the relatives of the hostages vehemently reject this and express concern that the resumption of the war would endanger the lives of their loved ones.
Netanyahu said he was grateful to the USA for its help in the fight against the Houthis in Yemen. "Of course, we still have a lot of work to do against other parts of the axis of evil." Netanyahu was referring to the self-proclaimed "axis of resistance" of Iran, Israel's arch-enemy.
For the first time since a ceasefire began two months ago, the Israeli air force once again massively bombed targets in the Gaza Strip during the night. According to the health authority controlled by the Islamist Hamas, more than 400 people were killed and hundreds more injured.
