Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday called on the terrorist group Hamas to lay down its weapons in Gaza.
– The war is still going on but it is the beginning of the end for Hamas. To the Hamas terrorists I say: It is over. Don’t die to Sinwar. Give up now, he says in a statement according to the AFP news agency.
The prime minister is referring to Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, who is believed to be one of the masterminds behind attacks on Israel.
Claims that Hamas is capitulating
Netanyahu also says that “dozens” of Hamas soldiers have surrendered in Gaza, despite the fact that the Israeli army, the IDF, has not released any evidence that this is the case. Hamas itself has rejected the Israeli leader’s claims.
Aid organizations in the area continue to ring the alarm bells when it comes to the situation of civilians in the Gaza Strip.
Over the weekend, the IDF urged residents of Khan Yunis, the second largest city in the Gaza Strip, to evacuate and head to the coastal area of al-Mawasi, which is about 20 square kilometers in size.
“Gaza’s healthcare system is on its knees”
The head of the World Health Organization WHO, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, warns that diseases risk spreading when large numbers of people are forced to flee to smaller areas. In addition, lack of food, water and medical care pose a great danger to civilians.
– Gaza’s healthcare system is on its knees and is collapsing, he says according to the TT news agency.
At the same time, he states that only 14 of the 36 hospitals in Gaza can be used.
The Hamas-controlled Gaza Health Ministry says nearly 18,000 people have died in Gaza during the war between Israel and Hamas.