Israel threatens action against Hamas as bodies found at Gaza hospital

AFP | Jerusalem                                                        

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Gaza’s civil defence said yesterday dozens of bodies had been found buried at a hospital complex previously raided by Israel, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to ramp up military pressure on Hamas. Netanyahu, who threatened action “in the coming days” without elaborating, has repeatedly said the Israeli army will launch a ground assault on Rafah despite international concern for civilians who have taken refuge in the southern Gazan city.

The premier’s latest remarks came a day after US lawmakers approved $13 billion in new military aid to close ally Israel, even as global criticism mounts over the dire humanitarian crisis in the besieged Gaza Strip.

The Palestinian group Hamas, whose October 7 attack triggered the Gaza war, said the US aid was a “green light” for Israel to “continue the brutal aggression against our people”. Gaza’s civil defence agency said its teams had discovered 50 bodies since Saturday buried in the courtyard of the Nasser Medical Complex in Gaza’s main southern city of Khan Yunis. Israel’s military said it was checking the reports.

Painful blows

Netanyahu, in a video statement on the eve of the Jewish holiday of Passover, said Israel “will deliver additional and painful blows” to Hamas. “In the coming days we will increase the military and political pressure on Hamas because this is the only way to free our hostages,” he said. Israel estimates 129 captives remain in Gaza after the October 7 Hamas attack, including 34 who the military says are dead. The army has said at least some of the hostages are held in Rafah, which has so far been spared an Israeli invasion and where most of Gaza’s 2.4 million people have sought shelter.

Next steps

Israeli military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said in a televised statement that “the chief of staff has approved the next steps for the war,” without offering details. “On Passover, it will be 200 days of captivity for the hostages... We will fight until you return home to us,” he said. Earlier this week, the G7 group of developed economies said that it opposed a “full-scale military operation” in Rafah, fearing “catastrophic consequences” for civilians.