Netanyahu threatens to attack Gaza with 'greater power' if truce fails
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Netanyahu addresses the Israeli occupation regarding certain aspects of the ceasefire, including the return of the captives and "Israel's" plans if the agreement fails.
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a news conference in occupied al-Quds, Sept. 2, 2024. (AP)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Saturday that most of the 33 Israeli captives, who are to be released by Hamas as part of the ceasefire agreement, are still alive.
"Under the agreement that has been achieved, we will bring home 33 hostages, most of whom are alive," Netanyahu said in an address to the occupation.
In response to recent media reports regarding plans to withdraw Israeli occupation troops from the Philadelphi Corridor along the Gaza-Egypt border as part of the agreement, Netanyahu claimed that "Israel" will instead increase its military presence in the area.
He further said that "Israel" will retain control over the corridor and the entire so-called buffer zone surrounding the Palestinian enclave to allegedly prevent the smuggling of weapons and the removal of captives.
In the event of the failure of second-phase negotiations, Netanyahu said the Israeli occupation forces will be directed to renew the aggression on Gaza, with the support of the US administration.
"Both [outgoing US] President [Joe] Biden and [incoming US] President [Donald] Trump supported Israel's right to resume military actions if Israel decides that the talks on the second phase are fruitless," he stated, adding that the offensive would take on a new font and "greater power."
IOF strikes before ceasefire could kill captives: Abu Hamza
Continued Israeli strikes in Gaza could kill Israeli captives before their release, Abu Hamza, the spokesperson for the al-Quds Brigades warned.
Israeli captives’ families should ask the Israeli military to stop intensified strikes in the final hours before a ceasefire takes effect as this “would be the cause behind their children being killed,” PIJ military wing spokesperson Abu Hamza stressed.
He added that "the intensified Israeli bombardment is set to steer events in one of two directions: either the families of Israeli captives will receive their loved ones in coffins or safe and sound at home."
Abu Hamza underscored that the outcome of the situation in these critical final hours is entirely contingent on the actions and decisions of the Israeli military.
In a related context, the military spokesperson for the al-Qassam Brigades, Abu Obeida, stated on Thursday that the Israeli occupation forces targeted a location where a female captive set to be released as part of the first phase of the anticipated prisoner exchange deal was being held.
In a post on Telegram, Abu Obeida warned that "any aggression or bombing by the occupation during this phase could turn the freedom of a captive into a tragedy."
