Israeli Defense Minister emphasizes that Hamas forces in Rafah will proceed with ground operations. Defense Minister Gallant said of the Hamas unit, which was said to have been operating from a hospital in Khan Yunis in the south, 200 terrorists were armed with guns and other weapons, but they surrendered without a fight.
Former Defense Minister Gantz, who was in the wartime cabinet, said on the 18th that if Hamas did not release all the hostages by Ramadan, the Islamic fasting month that begins around the 10th of next month, he reportedly said.