Rafah operation to continue until Hamas destroyed or first hostage returned: Israel Defence Minister

Israel will continue its operation in the southern Gaza city of Rafah until Hamas forces in the area are destroyed or the Islamist movement hands over one of the Israeli hostages it still holds, Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said on Tuesday.

“This operation will continue until we eliminate Hamas in the Rafah area and the entire Gaza Strip, or until the first hostage returns,” he said in a statement.

He also vowed to “deepen” the military offensive in Rafah if a deal to bring home Israeli hostages held by Hamas does not make progress.

But he said Israel is willing to make “compromises” to bring home hostages. “If that option is removed, we will go on and “deepen” the operation,” he said. “This will happen all over the strip — in the south, in the centre and in the north.”

Israel sent troops into Rafah late Monday and seized the city’s strategic border crossing with Egypt after rebuffing a cease-fire proposal approved by Hamas. Israel said the proposal did not address its “core” demands but agreed to continue negotiations.

(With Reuters and AP inputs)

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