The Israeli military has strengthened its stance to carry out ground operations in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. The former defense minister, who was in the wartime cabinet, set a deadline for the Islamic organization Hamas, saying he would launch a ground operation against Rafah if the hostages were not released by Ramadan, the Islamic fasting month that begins around the 10th of next month.
The Israeli military continues to carry out heavy airstrikes and ground forces in Khan Yunis, the southern part of the Gaza Strip, which is believed to be a key Hamas stronghold.
Gaza health authorities said on the 19th that 107 people were killed in Israeli attacks in the past 24 hours, bringing the death toll to 29,092.
Reuters reported on the 19th that an estimated 6,000 Hamas fighters have been killed in fighting with Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip, citing senior Hamas officials.
It is said that there were approximately 30,000 Hamas fighters as of October last year, but the Israeli government has claimed to have killed more than 12,000 of them and touted its achievements.
Under these circumstances, former Defense Minister Gantz, who is in Israel's wartime cabinet, announced on the 18th that Hamas must release all hostages by Ramadan, the fasting month in which Muslims abstain from eating and drinking during the day, which begins around the 10th of next month. ``We will also launch an attack in Rafah,'' he said, pressing Hamas to release the hostages by a deadline.
The Israeli military says four Hamas battalions remain in Rafah and is stepping up its stance to carry out ground operations.
Meanwhile, nearly 1.5 million people, including evacuees, live in Rafah, and the international community is increasingly concerned about the casualties of residents.