China News Service, Beijing, February 18. Comprehensive news: The Israeli army bombed the central Gaza Strip and north of Rafah on the 17th local time, killing at least 66 people. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu said at a press conference on the 17th that he would not yield to any pressure and would continue to advance the plan to attack the southern city of Rafah in the Gaza Strip.
According to the official Palestinian news agency "Wafa", the Israeli army launched attacks on many houses in Deir al-Bayrah and other areas in the central Gaza Strip on the 17th, killing at least 44 people and injuring about 80 others. The Israeli army also bombed a house in central Gaza and farmland north of Rafah that night, killing 10 people, including women and children. According to reports, at least 66 Palestinians were killed in attacks that day.
The Israel Defense Forces issued a statement on the 17th saying that during the attack on Khan Yunis Nasser Hospital in the southern city of Gaza, the Israeli army arrested 100 "terrorist suspects" and found in the hospital belonging to the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas). arms. In addition, the Israeli army continued to carry out activities in different areas of the Gaza Strip that day, killing many militants.
Hamas denies accusations of using medical facilities for cover, Reuters reported. A spokesman for the health department in the Palestinian Gaza Strip said that the Israeli army detained a large number of medical staff at the Nasser Hospital and turned the hospital into a "military base."
According to the Times of Israel, Netanyahu said at a press conference on the 17th that he would continue to advance his plan to attack the southern city of Rafah in the Gaza Strip, despite the calls of the international community. He has instructed the Israel Defense Forces to evacuate local Palestinian civilians before the attack.
Netanyahu also said that the hostage agreement negotiations with Hamas were not going smoothly and that Hamas's "delusional" demands were the crux. Only if Hamas softens its position can the agreement make progress. Even if a deal is reached, Israeli forces will eventually enter Rafah because Israel must destroy Hamas camps in Rafah.
The 60th Munich Security Conference opened in Munich, Germany on the 16th local time. Qatar Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed delivered a speech at the meeting on the 17th, saying that the conflict between Israel and Hamas urgently needs to end, and the armistice agreement between the two parties should not be conditional on the release of hostages.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Shoukry said at a meeting on the 17th that Egypt cannot accept the displacement of Palestinians, but will take necessary humanitarian measures. Egyptian President Sisi affirmed in a phone call with French President Macron on the 17th that Egypt firmly opposes the "expulsion" of Palestinians to Egypt in any way or form. (over)