Israel: War on Hamas could last another year

ISRAEL’S forces targeted southern Gaza yesterday as it resumed its offensive against Hamas.

- Marco Giannangeli

 

And sources in Tel Aviv warned it could be another year before it achieves its objective to dismantle the terror organisation.

But as it launched more than 400 fresh air strikes and artillery bombardments against southern cities, including Khan Yunis, unease among western supporters continued to rise.

However, last night the Ministry of Defence said the UK will conduct unarmed surveillance flights over Israel and Gaza to search for hostage locations.

A spokesman said: “Only information relating to hostage rescue will be passed to the relevant authorities responsible for hostage rescue.”

Last week US President Joe Biden warned his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu that the way Israel operated in northern Gaza, which included a wide assault and three armoured and infantry divisions, cannot be repeated in the southern part of the enclave because of the millions of Palestinians there now.