By Austin Ogwuda with Agency report
The Israel Defense Forces said Monday that its soldiers were conducting a “variety of training exercises in order to improve the forces’ readiness and capabilities for ground operations in the Gaza Strip”.
According to Israel Defence Forces spokesman, Jonathan Conricus “a full surrender of Hamas and the return of Israeli hostages could end Israel’s war in the Gaza Strip.
“The aim here is to totally dismantle Hamas from its military capabilities. If that can be done from the air, and with standoff measures, with very limited exposure to our troops and less damage on the ground, that would be great”, he stated.
*Health authorities in Gaza said over 5,000 people have been killed since the Oct. 7 start of the war between Palestinian militant group Hamas and Israel.
More than 15,000 have been injured, the authorities said.It is over two weeks since the Palastinian militant group Hamas launched its assault on Israel, killing at least 1,400 people and taking over 200 hostages.
Meanwhile, the European Union’s top diplomat Josep Borrell on Monday called for a pause in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas, to allow the delivery of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip.
*Credit: CNBC/Reuters/ABC Radio
