Israel “will increase political and military pressure on Hamas in the next few days”, said Benjamin Netanyahu.
Speaking ahead of the Jewish holiday of Passover which begins tomorrow, the Israeli leader said all proposals to free the hostages have been “directly rejected by Hamas”.
“In the coming days we will increase military and political pressure on Hamas because this is the only way to free our hostages and achieve our victory,” he said.
I will fight against any sanctions against military units
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also noted in his statements that he will fight against the imposition of sanctions against any Israeli military unit.
Yesterday, Saturday, the Axios news website reported that Washington plans to impose sanctions on the Netzah Yehuda Brigade that has operated in the occupied West Bank for alleged human rights violations. The Israeli military said it was not aware of any measures being taken.
“If anyone thinks they can sanction a unit of the Israeli Armed Forces (IDF) — I will fight it with all my might,” Netanyahu said in a statement. The Israeli military has stated that the Netzah Yehuda Battalion is an active combat unit that operates in accordance with the principles of international law.
“Following reports of sanctions against the battalion, the IDF (states that) it is not aware of the matter. If a decision is made on the matter it will be reviewed. The IDF is working and will continue to work to investigate any unusual event in a practical manner and according with the law,” the military said.
The Hamas leader’s sister is being prosecuted for inciting terrorism
Israel’s public prosecutor’s office today charged the sister of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh with inciting and supporting a terrorist organization after she allegedly praised the October 7 Hamas attack that sparked the Gaza war.
Sabah al-Salem Haniya, 57, lives in the southern Israeli city of Tel Sheva. Her brother is based in Qatar, as are other officials of Hamas, the Palestinian Islamist group that rules the Gaza Strip.
Haniya is being held after she was arrested on April 1, Israel’s Justice Ministry said.
According to the indictment, in the days following the carnage unleashed by Hamas in southern Israel on Oct. 7, Haniya sent messages to dozens of contacts, including her brother, praising the attack and calling for further “carnage.”
One of her messages included in the indictment includes the sentence: “O God, measure them and kill them and spare none of them, O God.”
Hamas killed around 1,200 Israelis and foreigners in the October 7 attack that led to the war, where the Gaza health ministry says at least 34,000 Palestinians have been killed.
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