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The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on December 21 that Israeli forces had continued to carry out air strikes on a large number of Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip over the past day.
A spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces said on the evening of the 20th that the Israeli army has taken control of Hamas's administrative and military "power center" in Gaza City. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made it clear on the same day that the Israeli army will not cease fire in the Gaza Strip in the short term until it "destroys" Hamas.
"We will not stop fighting until we achieve all the goals we have set ourselves: the elimination of Hamas, the release of the hostages, and the end of the threat from Gaza," Netanyahu reportedly said in a statement. Netanyahu said the Israeli army was attacking Hamas militants "everywhere" in Gaza. "Anyone who thinks we're going to stop is out of touch with reality," he said...... We are attacking Hamas with powerful firepower. ”
Currently, progress is slow on the ceasefire and exchange of detainees in Gaza.
Some media analysts pointed out that Netanyahu's insistence on pushing forward with military action was largely due to the influence of far-right forces within the ruling coalition. According to the Times of Israel, the leader of the far-right party, Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir, has threatened to withdraw from the ruling coalition if the government does not move forward with military action "with all its might." This means that Netanyahu's government will be heading for its downfall.
On the 21st local time, Hamas fired a large number of rockets from the Gaza Strip into Israel, and Tel Aviv, Ashkelon and other places sounded the air defense alarm.
Hamas's armed faction "Qassam Brigade" issued a statement on the evening of the 20th, saying that in the past 72 hours, it destroyed or injured 41 Israeli military vehicles and killed 25 Israeli soldiers.
(Edited by Shen Peipei)