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As the ground operation intensified, Ben-jamin Netanyahu in-sisted: \u201cThis is a time for war\u201d. He vowed to consign the terror group to the \u201cdustbin of history\u201d and praised the rescue of a female army private in a military army private by a military offensive which he said put pressure on Hamas \u201cmonsters\u201d.<\/p>\n
He also indicated troops are pushing \u00adfurther into the Gaza Strip, warning \u00adoperations \u201cwill escalate\u201d. More than 2,000 Hamas fighters invaded Israeli territory on October 7, killing 1,400 people, including 332 members of the security forces.<\/p>\n
More Jews were killed on that day than on any other since the Holocaust. But the spiralling death toll as Israel bombards the Gaza Strip has led to increasing calls for a ceasefire in the region.<\/p>\n
Mr Netanyahu last night stood firm amid the criticism. He said: \u201cJust as the US would not agree to a ceasefire after the bombing of Pearl Harbor or after the terrorist attack of 9\/11, Israel will not agree to a cessation of hostilities with Hamas after the horrific attacks of October 7.<\/p>\n
\u201cCalls for a ceasefire are calls for Israel to surrender to Hamas, to surrender to terrorism. \u201cThe Bible says, \u2018There is a time for peace, and a time for war\u2019. This is a time for a war. A war for our common future. Today, we draw a line between the forces of civilisation and the forces of barbarism.\u201d<\/p>\n
He added: \u201cI hope and pray that civilised nations will back this fight. Regardless of who stands with Israel. Israel will fight this war until it is won.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe horrors that Hamas perpetrated on October 7 remind us that we will not realise the promise of a better future unless the civilised world are willing to fight the barbarians. The barbarians are willing to fight us.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said Israel did not start the war but would win it, and added that Hamas was part of an \u201caxis of evil\u201d that Iran is forming.<\/p>\n
Israeli forces said high-ranking Hamas commanders Jamil Baba, Muhammad Safadi, Muwaman Hegazi and Muhammad Awadallah had all been \u201celiminated\u201d in a series of targeted strikes, raising fears of retaliatory hostage killings. Hamas is holding more than 200 people following its attack on Israel.<\/p>\n
The Israeli military also said it had recovered Ori Megidish, a soldier who was abducted by Hamas militants.<\/p>\n
She received medical attention and was deemed to be in good \u00adcondition before reuniting with her family, the military said.<\/p>\n
It is understood she was held alone, although other members of her unit were captured by Hamas on October 7. Mr Netanyahu said her return underlined the \u201ccommitment to bring about the release of all the hostages\u201d.<\/p>\n
In a statement, he added: \u201cLast night, our forces liberated Pvt Ori Megidish from Hamas \u00ad captivity. Ori was abducted on the black morning of October 7. Welcome home, Ori!<\/p>\n
\u201cTo the terrorists of Hamas and Isis I say \u2013 you are monsters. We will continue to pursue you. We will continue to hunt
you. We will strike you until you fall at our feet.\u201d<\/p>\n
A total of 8,306 Palestinians, including 3,457 children, have been killed in the Israeli attacks, according to figures from the Gaza Health Ministry. For those trapped in Gaza, they have little or no food, water, electricity or fuel.<\/p>\n
READ MORE <\/strong> Threat by pro-Palestinian to boycott Remembrance Day with ‘rejection’ of silence<\/strong><\/p>\n There have been widespread communication blackouts, making it impossible for aid agencies and humanitarian charities to keep in contact with those on the ground who need help.<\/p>\n British charity Save the Children warned trapped minors were almost certain to die, or suffer severe physical harm and be This includes an unknown number of child hostages taken into the Gaza Strip. Humanitarian workers said \u00adchildren would bear the brunt of an intensification in bombardment, with more deaths certain.<\/p>\n Yesterday, a truck carrying 45,000 bottles of water from Save the Children arrived in Gaza as part of a small group of aid trucks granted entry through the Rafah Crossing.<\/p>\n Another truck with a further 45,000 bottles is likely to cross in the coming days. The two trucks have been waiting to cross into Gaza since October 16.<\/p>\n Save the Children said it was \u201chorrified\u201d by the rapidly escalating violence and the \u201cprofound humanitarian catastrophe\u201d.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, it emerged yesterday that Hamas had become a $1billion terror group and that alleged high-value assets in Turkey \u201cform part of a secret global investment portfolio\u201d.<\/p>\n US officials believe the compound Anda Park Balat 2, in Bursa, north Turkey, is a high-value asset in a secret portfolio that could make Hamas one of the richest terrorist groups in the world.<\/p>\n On Friday, the US Treasury announced its third round of sanctions since 2022 targeting Trend GYO, the Turkey-based developer of Anda Park Balat 2 and several other projects, for allegedly being part of Hamas\u2019s international financing network.<\/p>\n
saddled with lifelong emotional distress because of the war. It said more than one million children \u2013 nearly half of the \u00adpopulation \u2013 are now in grave danger.<\/p>\n\n