Intensive Phase of War with Hamas to Soon End, Israel Says

Israel – Israel's Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant on Monday stated that the intensive phase of Israel's war with Hamas will soon come to an end, but he ruled out a ceasefire.

During a press conference, Yoav Gallant mentioned that the intensive military maneuvers conducted by the Israeli military in southern Gaza would soon conclude.

He explained that the military recently concluded its intensive ground operation in northern Gaza. "In both places, we will seize the moment for the next stage," he said, as quoted from VOA site. 

Gallant remarked that Israel could not completely halt its military operations in Gaza because Hamas refused to release hostages without military pressure.

Gallant's comments came as Hamas announced the death of two Israeli hostages they had abducted in an attack in October. In a video released on Monday, the group displayed two bodies said to be the Israeli hostages. 

In a statement accompanying the video, Hamas claimed that the Israeli military killed the hostages. Israeli military spokesperson Daniel Hagari denied that Israeli forces caused their deaths, stating, "It's a Hamas lie."

Earlier on Monday, Israeli forces launched new airstrikes in the Gaza Strip, while the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza reported that Israeli attacks had killed over 130 people in the last 24 hours.

The Israeli military stated that its operations included killing five militants in northern Gaza, as well as airstrikes and ground attacks destroying weapon storage facilities in the Khan Younis area in southern Gaza.

The Gaza Health Ministry reported that the death toll from Israel's military campaign had risen to at least 24,100 people, with over 60,000 others injured.

For context, Israel initiated its military campaign after Hamas fighters crossed into southern Israel for attacks on October 7, 2023, resulting in 1,200 casualties and the kidnapping of 240 people in the terror attack.