The Israeli military says Gaza City has been fully surrounded, and that the Gaza Strip has been split in two. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel still refuses to implement a ceasefire, until all the hostages are returned.
The Israel Defense Forces said Sunday that it had fully surrounded Gaza City and split Gaza into two. According to IDF spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, the Gaza Strip is now split into "north Gaza and south Gaza", adding that "there are now widespread strikes on terror infrastructure, below ground and above it."
Hagari called the encirclement of Gaza City a "significant stage" in the war between Israeli forces and Hamas militants, as it's now able to "pinpoint operations deeper within Gaza."
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Despite international calls for a humanitarian ceasefire, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated on Sunday that there will be no ceasefire until all hostages are returned first.
"I want you to know that there's one thing that we won't do, there won't be a ceasefire without the return of our hostages, take it completely out of the lexicon, we say it to our enemies and to our friends, and we'll simply carry on until we win. We don't have an alternative." Meanwhile, Iran warned Sunday that the U.S. "will be hit hard" if there's no ceasefire.
According to the Iranian defense minister, Tehran's message to the Americans was to "immediately stop the war in Gaza and implement a ceasefire", without further elaborating on the repercussions. Iran considers the U.S. to be "militarily involved" in the armed conflict.
The White House on the other hand says, hostage negotiations are taking place, and added that fighting may be paused to ensure their safe movement.
Speaking to CBS on Sunday, Deputy National Security Advisor Jonathan Finer said negotiations are taking place quietly behind the scenes, and that Washington believes there is an opportunity to release a significant number of hostages.
When asked if Israel would agree to a ceasefire, Finer added that the U.S. will work hard to make it happen.
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