Netanyahu’s statement comes as Israel continues strikes on Gaza despite the ceasefire, and as Israel and Hamas remain deadlocked in indirect, US-brokered talks to advance Trump’s peace plan.<\/p>\n
At least 738 Palestinians have been killed since the ceasefire came into effect in October, according to the Hamas-run health ministry, whose figures the UN considers reliable. <\/p>\n
Netanyahu has made several public remarks confirming that the IDF controls more than 60% of the Strip, up from the 53% agreed in October. Under the ceasefire agreement, the IDF withdrew to a demarcation line, known as the “yellow line”.<\/p>\n
The next steps in the 20-point peace proposal<\/a> would see Hamas disarm and Israeli troops withdraw, but indirect talks between Israel and the Palestinian armed group have stalled. <\/p>\n On Wednesday, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz wrote on X that his country had “pledged to eliminate everyone who led the October 7 massacre” in 2023. <\/p>\n “We pledged that Hamas will not rule Gaza civilly or militarily,” he said. <\/p>\n He also said that what he called the “plan for voluntary emigration from Gaza” would be implemented “at the proper time and in the proper manner”. <\/p>\n Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich have previously publicly defended what they describe as the “voluntary migration” of Palestinians from Gaza – which could amount to the forced displacement of civilians, a war crime<\/a> – and resettling it with Jews.<\/p>\n This week has also seen several strikes in Gaza. At least 10 people, including five children, were killed in an Israeli strike on a building in Gaza City late on Wednesday, according to local hospitals. <\/p>\n The Israeli military has released a short statement saying it struck “two central Hamas terrorists in the northern Gaza Strip”, without disclosing their identities.<\/p>\n The target of the attack appeared to have been Hamas battalion commander Imad Asleem, who was killed alongside his teenage daughter Israa.<\/p>\n