Israel’s top military commander has issued a stark warning that combat in Gaza will continue “without rest” if negotiations fail to achieve a swift hostage release. This latest declaration by Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) chief of staff, underscores the escalating urgency in efforts to end the prolonged hostage crisis.
No Agreement, No Pause
In a statement delivered during a field visit to officers stationed inside Gaza, Lt. Gen. Zamir emphasized the narrow window for diplomacy. “I estimate that in the coming days we will know whether we can reach an agreement for the release of our hostages,” he said. “If not, the combat will continue without rest.”
The remarks came as Israeli forces continued their operations in Gaza, and military footage showed Zamir engaging with troops in a command center close to the frontlines.
Hostage Situation Still Critical
According to the Israeli military, of the 251 hostages abducted during Hamas’s attack on October 7, 2023, 49 are still in captivity. The army believes 27 of them are no longer alive. The hostage crisis remains a central issue for Israeli leadership, especially after Hamas released two videos this week showing visibly frail and malnourished captives.
These images have intensified public and political pressure within Israel, especially from families of the hostages, to accelerate efforts for a ceasefire and bring their loved ones home.
Read: France Sends Emergency Aid to Gaza Amid Looming Famine
Stalled Talks Raise Tensions
Efforts to negotiate a ceasefire and secure hostage release, brokered by the United States, Egypt, and Qatar, broke down last month. The collapse of these talks has prompted renewed calls in Israel for a harsher military approach, as frustrations mount over the lack of progress.
International actors have urged restraint, but Israel’s military appears prepared to escalate operations if talks do not resume or fail to deliver results quickly. The Israeli government views the hostages’ fate as non-negotiable and remains determined to apply pressure on Hamas through continued force.
Famine Warnings and Denials
As the fighting drags on, humanitarian agencies have sounded the alarm over Gaza’s worsening food crisis. Several organizations report that Israeli restrictions on aid have pushed the enclave toward catastrophic famine. Civilians, they say, face severe shortages of food, water, and medicine.
However, General Zamir strongly denied these claims, calling them politically motivated. “The current campaign of false accusations of intentional starvation is a deliberate, timed, and deceitful attempt to accuse the IDF, a moral army, of war crimes,” he asserted.
He placed the blame squarely on Hamas, accusing the group of exploiting civilians and bearing full responsibility for their suffering. “The ones responsible for the killing and suffering of the residents in the Gaza Strip is Hamas,” he said.
Heavy Casualties on Both Sides
The October 2023 assault by Hamas marked one of the deadliest days in Israeli history, resulting in the deaths of 1,219 people, most of them civilians. Since the subsequent Israeli ground invasion of Gaza, 898 Israeli soldiers have been killed, according to official military figures.
Meanwhile, Gaza’s Health Ministry reports that at least 60,332 Palestinians have been killed, mostly civilians. These figures, considered credible by the United Nations, paint a grim picture of the ongoing conflict’s toll.
Mounting Pressure for Resolution
Calls for a ceasefire have grown louder both internationally and within Israel. Public demonstrations, particularly from the families of the hostages, have urged the government to prioritize negotiations over military action. Yet, the leadership remains firm that Hamas must first show a willingness to release those still in captivity.
As the crisis deepens, Israel’s dual focus on hostage recovery and continued military pressure creates a volatile situation with no clear end in sight. The coming days may prove critical, as diplomacy hangs in the balance and combat continues to ravage an already devastated region
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