Israel closes in on Gaza and insists that there will be no "pause" until the hostages are released

The Israel Defense Forces continue to close in this Sunday on enemy territory in Gaza. As Israeli troops gain ground, there is increasing evidence that terrorists are hiding in civilian infrastructures. Hamas has its headquarters hidden under the Shifa Hospital, the largest hospital in the Gaza Strip. It is also using ambulances to move around the territory and even to cross into Egypt.

Terrorists have set off rocket launchers in civilian areas such as children's pools and amusement parks.

Another incident that "further proves that Hamas is exploiting innocent Gazans," according to Israeli sources, is the attack on the Salah Al-Din humanitarian route, which Israel told civilians in Palestine to use to escape the area most affected by the attacks.

"Hamas terrorists fired mortars and anti-tank missiles at IDF troops who operated to open the Salah Al-Din humanitarian route for the evacuation of residents from northern Gaza southwards," the Israeli State reported on the attack.

Operations against the tunnel network

One of the objectives of the ground incursion into Gaza is to attack the network of underground tunnels - which, according to Hamas, extend 500 kilometers (311 miles).

In addition to combatants, the tunnels reinforced with tons of concrete are also believed to store supplies, such as weapons or food, and some or all of the over 200 hostages who were kidnapped on October 7.

"IDF troops uncovered multiple access points during operational activity in Northern Gaza," Israeli forces reported this Sunday. One of the access points discovered was at a hospital, according to IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari. In a conference this Sunday, Hagari shared some videos that show an underground entrance to the Sheikh Hamad Hospital. According to Hagari, this is connected to Hamas' underground tunnels.

"If it weren't enough that we exposed a tunnel under the hospital, the terrorists also shot at our soldiers from within the hospital," said the military spokesman.

There will be no "pause" until the hostages are released

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisted this Sunday that he will not negotiate a ceasefire until the hostages kidnapped by Hamas are released.

"Take this out of the lexicon," he recommended to both "enemies and friends" about the term ceasefire, as reported by the Times of Israel. "We will continue until we defeat them; we do not have an alternative."

Netanyahu turned down the Biden administration's proposal to agree to a "pause" in the war. The prime minister clarified his position to Secretary of State Antony Blinken in a meeting on Friday.

Hours earlier, President Biden proposed a "humanitarian pause." The White House also announced a national strategy against "Islamophobia."

Blinken meets with Abbas

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said in a meeting with the U.S. Secretary of State that he is willing to take over the Gaza Strip if a "comprehensive political solution" to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is reached, according to AP.

Abbas claimed that military actions would not ensure Israel's security. He told Blinken that the only definitive outcome would be to end the "occupation" and establish a Palestinian State with new borders.