Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that his government will keep striking Hamas cells and work to disarm the group and demilitarise the Gaza Strip, even after the ceasefire that began last month.
In a meeting with his ministers, Netanyahu explained that some Hamas fighters are still active in southern Gaza, in areas such as Rafah and Khan Younis. “We are systematically eliminating those cells,” he said. “Disarming Hamas and removing weapons from Gaza is our guiding principle.” He added that he had agreed on the plan with former U.S. President Donald Trump and that Israel will pursue the goal by any means necessary.
Netanyahu told officials that Israeli forces would continue to protect troops still on the ground in Gaza. He said Israel will inform its U.S. allies about operations but will not seek their permission, stressing that the country will not compromise its “supreme security responsibility.”
Meanwhile, the White House is working to preserve the ceasefire and secure further hostage releases, even though Israeli air strikes have continued at a reduced pace. Gaza’s health authorities reported on Sunday that at least 236 Palestinians had been killed and 600 wounded by Israeli fire since the truce began, bringing the overall death toll since the October 7 2023 attacks to 68,865.
Netanyahu also urged Lebanon to enforce its commitment to disarm Hezbollah. He accused the militia of rearming and warned that Israel would act in self‑defence if needed. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz echoed the message, calling on Beirut to remove Hezbollah forces from southern Lebanon. “We will intensify enforcement and not allow any threat to north‑Lebanon residents,” Katz said.
The Israeli military killed four members of Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Force on Saturday in the latest cross‑border strike, part of the ongoing conflict that has continued despite the November ceasefire.
Source: ianslive
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