Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has defended Israel’s actions in Gaza and blamed Hamas for the deaths of civilians. In response to French President Emmanuel Macron’s call for Israel to stop attacking civilians, Netanyahu argued that Israel is doing everything possible to avoid harming Gazan civilians, while Hamas is using them as human shields. He accused Hamas of holding Israeli hostages, including women, children, and the elderly, and using schools, mosques, and hospitals as terror command centers.
Netanyahu warned that if Hamas is not condemned, their crimes in Gaza will spread to other nations, including Paris and New York. He emphasized the need for world leaders to denounce Hamas-ISIS and not blame Israel.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) also provided an operational update, stating that the 401st Brigade had eliminated approximately 150 terrorists and gained control over Hamas strongholds in northern Gaza. The targets included arms production sites, launching stations, and an underground network.
Contrary to previous reports, the Israeli Foreign Ministry revised the death toll of last month’s Hamas attacks to around 1,200. However, no explanation was given for the update.
