Israeli troops and tanks have pushed further into the besieged Gaza Strip after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday refused to agree to a ceasefire.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: “Calls for a ceasefire are calls for Israel to surrender to Hamas, to surrender to terrorism, to surrender to barbarism. That will not happen.”
Netanyahu’s comments came as Hamas released a video showing three Israeli women held captive in Gaza. In the video, hostage Daniel Aloni fiercely criticizes the Israeli prime minister for failing to prevent the October 7 attack. Netanyahu dismissed the video as “cruel psychological propaganda.” On Monday, Israel said it had freed Israel soldier Ori Megidish, who was taken prisoner by Hamas on October 7. Israeli officials also announced the death of 23-year-old Shani Louk, who was kidnapped by Hamas from a music festival in southern Israel.