Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said during a visit to Gaza that Israeli forces would remain in the enclave until Hamas is disarmed. In a post on X, Netanyahu said "Israel is doing everything within its power to achieve its goal of disarming Hamas and removing weapons from Gaza."
Netanyahu stated that Gaza "will no longer pose a threat to Israel." He added that Israeli forces control 60 percent of Gaza's territory and are continuing operations, saying "we control the region here, we will not withdraw, we will remain on this line."
Netanyahu said the goal of disarming Hamas and removing weapons from Gaza "has already been largely achieved, and there is still work to be completed, and we will complete it." He pointed to Israeli towns visible from his position in Gaza, including Sderot, Netivot and surrounding kibbutzim.
A ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel took effect in October, yet the Israeli military has continued air strikes and artillery bombardment at a near-regular pace. Israeli forces control more than 60 percent of the territory, home to more than two million people, mostly displaced.
On Tuesday, Israel announced the arrest of Hamas's internal security chief during an operation in Gaza. The office of Netanyahu said the detainee was responsible for hiding hostages and moving them, providing hideouts for senior Hamas officials, and strengthening the group's capabilities.
Local sources reported that four people were killed in bombardment that the city had not experienced with such intensity in recent weeks.
