As part of the IDF’s preparations for evacuating the population southern from Gaza City for its safety, officers from the IDF Gaza District Coordination and Liaison in COGAT carried out initial warning calls on Tuesday to medical officials and international organizations in the northern Gaza Strip in order to prepare for the evacuation of the population to the southern Gaza Strip.
In an interview with Sharri Markson of Australia’s Sky News, Netanyahu confirmed that his government would continue a full military takeover of Gaza even if Hamas accepted a late ceasefire offer. Interviewer Sharri Markson noted that there are reports Hamas was “on the verge of accepting a deal for a ceasefire” and wondered if “it is true, and do you still plan to take over Gaza and eliminate the terrorists if they do agree to a deal?”
Netanyahu responded, “We’re gonna do that anyway. There was never a question that we’re not going to leave Hamas there. I think President Trump put it best, he says Hamas has to disappear from Gaza. It can end if Hamas lays down its arms and releases the remaining 50 hostages, at least 20 of which are alive, and that’s our goal to get all the hostages out, to disarm Hamas, demilitarize Gaza, and give a different future for Gazans.”
According to an IlTV YouTube report, the operation began ahead of schedule.