Israel - Hamas War : Israel says ready to evacuate babies from Gaza
In the meantime, the Israeli military declared that newborns at the Al-Shifa hospital were ready to be evacuated. On Sunday, an army spokesman said that troops would assist with the evacuation. Palestinian officials reported that amid the fierce fighting in the region, gasoline shortages had resulted in the deaths of two babies and put scores more in danger.
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that israel would continue its battle to defeat the Hamas terrorists who rule Gaza with "full force," in defiance of growing international calls for a truce. Netanyahu said in a televised speech that a truce would only be possible if all 239 hostages held in Gaza were freed.
The army made it clear that hospitals are not their aim and stated that they are prepared to evacuate infants. "Shifa hospital staff has requested assistance in relocating babies from the pediatric department to a safer hospital," an Israeli army spokeswoman said. We'll offer the assistance that's required.
• As the war moved into its sixth week, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu once more dismissed the mounting international pleas for a cease-fire. He declared that israel would use "full force" to destroy Hamas in Gaza and that a cease-fire would only be feasible if all 239 hostages held by terrorists in Gaza were freed. Netanyahu added in a televised speech that israel would maintain security control over Gaza after the conflict and that it would be demilitarized.
"The war against Hamas-ISIS is advancing at full force and it has one goal – victory. There is no substitute for victory. We will eliminate Hamas and bring back our hostages. IDF forces have completed the encirclement of the city of Gaza. My directive and that of the cabinet is clear: There will be no ceasefire without the return of our hostages," a statement from the Prime Minister's office said.