Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday that he would not rule out having to "
come to grips
" with Palestinian Hamas, in power in the Gaza Strip, if the option of "
deterrence
" fails, after more than a week of deadly exchanges of fire.
Read also: In Gaza, the hunt for Israel to eliminate the military leader of Hamas
"
There are only two possibilities to confront them, either you overcome them - and it is always a possibility - or you dissuade them and we are currently engaged in a firm deterrence
", declared the Prime Minister. to ambassadors in Tel Aviv. "
I must say that we are not ruling out any possibility,
" he added. "
What we are trying to do is precisely this: reduce their capabilities, their terrorist means, and decrease their determination,
" he added. “
We hope to be able to restore calm, and we hope to be able to restore it quickly. I mean we are doing this by doing our utmost to avoid civilian casualties
”.
Since the start of this new round of violence between Israel and armed groups in the Gaza Strip, led by Hamas, on May 10, at least 219 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli strikes on the densely populated Palestinian enclave. and under blockade, according to the local health ministry.
On the Israeli side, 12 people died after rocket strikes towards Israeli territory, according to the police. In addition to rocket launching sites, Israeli forces say they targeted several Hamas headquarters, the homes of its leaders, equipment and undergrounds used for the movement of munitions and activists. Israel is studying "
the question of the opportune moment for a ceasefire
," a senior Israeli military official said earlier, saying, however, that the Jewish state was ready for an extension of the offensive on the Palestinian enclave of Gaza. .
Faced with the continuation of violence, France tabled on Tuesday evening a draft resolution to the Security Council aimed at pushing the UN "
to take up
" the issue and thus put an end to eight days of blockage, mainly because of Washington, on the adoption of a simple declaration on the conflict.
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