Binyamin Netanyahu lays down his conditions. Israel's prime minister said Tuesday he would rule out any ceasefire or fuel delivery to the Gaza Strip until the 241 hostages held there by Hamas are released. "No entry of gasoline, no (Palestinian) workers in Israel and no ceasefire without the release of our hostages," Netanyahu said in a speech.
הצטרפו לשידור החי: ראש הממשלה בנימין נתניהו בהצהרה לתקשורת. https://t.co/jNWVXoesr0
— ראש ממשלת ישראל (@IsraeliPM_heb) November 7, 2023
The Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip is being relentlessly shelled by Israel in retaliation for an unprecedented attack on Israeli soil on October 7 by the Islamist movement. Since then, according to Israeli authorities, at least 1,400 people have died on the Israeli side, the majority of them civilians killed on 7 October in the deadliest attack in Israel's history. On that day, 241 people were also kidnapped by Hamas and taken to Gaza, according to Israeli authorities.
Hospitals at a standstill
Israel is imposing a "complete siege" on the small territory where 2.4 million Palestinians are now trying to survive without basic necessities and under bombardment that has already killed more than 10,300 people, according to Hamas' health ministry.
Video. Gaza: 'No ceasefire without release of hostages', says Netanyahu
Shortages of petrol, which Israel has banned from delivering since the siege began, have led to the shutdown of several vital services, including hospitals.