On 44th day of war, Israel says “Hamas will continue mopping up operations in and around Gaza.”

An image released by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on the 16th (local time) shows them conducting operations in the western part of Gaza City in the northern Gaza Strip. /Xinhua·Yonhap News

Israel has announced that it will expand its operation against the Palestinian armed group Hamas throughout and beyond the Gaza Strip.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Galant referred to Hamas members in and around the Gaza Strip as ‘dead men walking’ at a press conference on the 18th (local time), according to Times of Israel (TOI).

Minister Galant said, “There is no difference between a terrorist with a Kalashnikov (a Soviet-made automatic rifle) and a terrorist in a three-piece suit.” The reference to a suited terrorist is believed to be a mention of Ismail Haniyeh, the top leader of Hamas, who is known to be based in Qatar, TOI interpreted.

At the event, Prime Minister Netanyahu said, “The global pressure to end the ongoing war with Hamas is strong,” and “But I announce to the world that I will continue to fight until Hamas is annihilated.”

In response to a question about allowing fuel imports into the Gaza Strip, changing his previous stance, Netanyahu mentioned international opinion and said there is no way to conduct a war without ensuring humanitarian needs. “If an epidemic breaks out, we won’t be able to control everything,” he replied, according to TOI.

Minister Galant revealed that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) are continuing to strongly attack Hamas in the Gaza Strip and will soon carry out operations in the south as well.

He said, “We are in the second phase of a ground invasion and are operating in the east of the Gaza Strip,” and “Hamas has suffered a great blow, losing tunnels, bunkers, and outposts, and many high-ranking commanders have been killed.”

He added, “We are reaching all sensitive places for Hamas and attacking them,” and “The places where Hamas terrorists can operate are decreasing day by day.”

The parents of Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) Corporal Noah Marciano are attending Marciano’s funeral in Modiin, Israel, on the 17th (local time). The deceased’s body was retrieved by the IDF near Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. /Reuters·Yonhap News

Palestinians are seen fleeing past an Israeli tank conducting ground operations in Gaza City on the 18th (local time) in this photo captured from AFPTV footage. /AFP·Yonhap News

Palestinians are fleeing south from Gaza City and other areas in the northern Gaza Strip on the 18th (local time). /AFP·Yonhap News

The Israeli military also announced today that it has expanded its operational area to the east after capturing the western region of Gaza City.

Since the 27th of last month, the Israeli military has been conducting urban warfare in the northern Gaza Strip, taking control of the Al-Shati refugee camp in the west of Gaza City near the Mediterranean, and continuing operations against Al-Shifa Hospital and other locations believed to be Hamas’ operational headquarters.

TOI reported that IDF Senior Spokesman Colonel Daniel Hagarie said that the Israeli military is still conducting operations in the Al-Shifa Hospital area to discover Hamas’ underground infrastructure.

Colonel Hagarie explained that the main missions of the operation in this area are to obtain information about hostages held by Hamas, identify the location of weapons and Hamas command posts, locate Hamas members in the area, and discover and destroy Hamas’ underground infrastructure under the hospital.

He said, “At this time, special forces are conducting operations in the tunnels discovered in Al-Shifa, and we will soon disclose the information,” and revealed that operations are being conducted in other hospitals in the northern Gaza Strip where Hamas is believed to have infrastructure.