Netanyahu determined to keep on fighting in Gaza as death toll of Israeli troops increases

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to continue the war in Gaza until “all of Israel’s goals were met” despite the deaths of more soldiers in combat.

Mr Netanyahu discussed the “objectives and phasing” of Israel’s military operations, the need to protect civilian lives and secure the release of hostages, with US President Joe Biden, the White House said.

Mr Netanyahu “made clear that Israel will pursue the war until all of its objectives are fully met”, his office said.

His comments came as the military said eight soldiers were killed in Gaza yesterday, taking combat losses to 154 since operations began on October 7.

All of the latest deaths were in central and southern Gaza.

Fighting also took place between Hamas and Israeli forces in the Jabalia area in northern Gaza, Palestinian media reported.

Israeli troops have been trying to enter the town for more than a month while their air attacks and artillery fire continued. On Saturday, Jabalia residents reported bombing by planes and shelling from Israeli tanks, which they said had moved further into the town.

Last weekend, Israel instructed the people of Al Burage camp, in central Gaza, to move 5km to the city of Deir Al Balah.

However, many returned to the camp because of overcrowding in the city.

“I didn’t find any place to go. The UNRWA schools are full of people in Deir Al Balah, and situations inside the schools are not perfect, people don’t find food there,” Ahmed Abu Marzouq, 50, told The National.

“I want to die inside my home in dignity. I am sure after a while they will ask the people inside Deir Al Balah to go to Rafah and then to Sinna, and I don’t want to go to Sinna, so let me die in my home in my land,” he said.

Others said shelling made moving dangerous.

“We are afraid of that Israeli shelling, and we don’t sleep at night; the shrapnel’s reach our places, but we are tired of keeping fleeing all the time,” said Hawa Hamdan, from a UN-run school in Al Burag.

More than 20 families, with about 30 children, are sheltering in the school’s corridors, she said.

The UN again called for a “humanitarian ceasefire” as the only way to ensure enough aid reaches people in Gaza.

Seventy aid lorries were received by the Palestinian Red Crescent inside Gaza on Saturday, the organisation said yesterday.

The shipment from the Rafah border included food, water and medical supplies. However, the Red Crescent did not report fuel deliveries.

Another 100 lorries entered Israeli checkpoints and are awaiting entry to Gaza, Cairo 24 news outlet reported. Planeloads of aid continued to land in the Egyptian city of Al Arish at the weekend.

Clashes also continued between Lebanon’s Hezbollah group and Israeli forces on the border between the two countries yesterday.

Hezbollah said it fired at Israeli artillery in Dishon, northern Israel, and claimed a direct hit.

The Israel military said several shells were fired at its positions in Shebaa Farms, an area claimed by Lebanon that was captured by Israel in the 1967 war between the two nations.

Israel has come under greater pressure from its allies, including the US, as the war continues and threatens to spill over to Lebanon and the Red Sea.

However, Mr Biden told reporters he “did not ask for a ceasefire”.

Mr Netanyahu dismissed reports that the US had convinced Israel not to expand its military activity in the region.

“Israel is a sovereign nation,” Mr Netanyahu said.

“Our military decisions are based upon our own calculations.”

Gazans in Al Burage camp who obeyed Israeli orders to move said there was no room for them in the city of Deir Al Balah