With dozens of Hamas terrorists reportedly surrendering in recent days, according to Israel, the Israeli prime minister has declared “the beginning of the end” for the Resistance Movement group.
Benjamin Netanyahu has called on Hamas terrorists to ‘surrender now’ as he vows that the Islamist group’s end is near.
He said: “The war is still ongoing but it is the beginning of the end of Hamas. I say to the Hamas terrorists: It’s over. Don’t die for Sinwar. Surrender now.”
The warning comes as Israel’s Defence Forces say they are closing in on top Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.
The Israeli military has not released proof that Hamas terrorists are surrendering, and Hamas has rejected the claims.
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Meanwhile, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza shows no signs of slowing and Qatar, who have been intrinsic in the release of hosages, has now warned the chances of a ceasefire in the region are ‘shrinking’.
On Sunday afternoon, the Hamas-run health agency in Gaza said almost 18,000 Palestinians had now been killed.
It was also revealed that Hamas fighters had fully or partially destroyed 180 military vehicles and killed “a large number” of Israeli soldiers, and that it is still inflicting blows on Israel, and “what is coming is greater”.
Speaking at the Doha Forum, Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani said Qatar would continue to pressure both sides into a ceasefire but expressed concern that the window for a truce was “narrowing”.
At the end of November the gulf state played a crucial role negotiating a week-long pause in violence, which allowed the release of hostages.
Yet in a message to Al Jazeera, Hamas’s armed wing said that no more hostages would be freed until Israel engaged in talks.
Philippe Lazzarini, the head of UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, said the area had become “hell on earth” and was “definitely the worst situation I have ever seen”.
Palestinian PM Mohammad Shtayyeh said Isreal “should not be allowed to keep violating international humanitarian law”, and called for international sanctions.
Civilians in Gaza have formerly been advised to make their way to a “safe zone” at al-Mawasi. But measuring just 8.5 sq km (3.3 sq miles), the area is smaller than Heathrow Airport.
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