CAIRO/GAZA/JERUSALEM - Israel stepped up its bombardment of Gaza overnight and into Dec 17, killing at least 40 people, Palestinians said, after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu argued that the only way to secure the release of hostages was intense military pressure on Hamas.
The Israeli attacks took place amid fierce fighting along the length of the coastal enclave, according to residents and militants, with communications down for a fourth day, making it hard to reach the wounded.
"The communication blackout in #Gaza is the longest since the start of the Israeli escalation," the Palestinian Red Crescent said on X, adding that its teams were also hampered by shelling.
Israel's spy chief held talks on Dec 15 with the Prime Minister of Qatar, which mediated earlier hostage releases in return for a weeklong ceasefire and the freeing of Palestinian prisoners, a source with knowledge of the matter said.
But the militants have said they will not discuss freeing any more of those captured when they attacked southern Israel on Oct 7 while Israel continues the all-out war on Gaza it unleashed in response.
With no signs of compromise, the violence intensified.
この記事は The Straits Times の December 18, 2023 版に掲載されています。
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この記事は The Straits Times の December 18, 2023 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
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