Netanyahu: Dismantling Gaza Strip increases pressure on Hamas to release remaining hostages

(Patria) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated yesterday that the Israeli army is dismantling the Gaza Strip and increasing pressure on the Palestinian Hamas to force them to release the remaining hostages.

- We are dismantling the Gaza Strip and increasing pressure step by step so that they (Hamas) release our hostages - Netanyahu said in a video released by his office.

He stated that the army is "occupying territory, striking terrorists, and destroying infrastructure".

Netanyahu announced the creation of a new "area" under Israeli control that will separate the cities of Khan Yunis and Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip and return it to the level of the former Jewish settlement of Morag, destroyed during Israel's unilateral withdrawal from the Gaza Strip in 2005.

Israeli authorities announced yesterday the expansion of military operations to occupy "large parts" of the Gaza Strip.

- The goal of this military operation is to "crush and clear the area of terrorists and terrorist infrastructure, and to occupy large areas that will be included in Israel's security zones" - said Defense Minister Israel Katz.

On the other hand, about 50 released hostages and relatives of Israeli prisoners still in the Gaza Strip published an open letter calling for a cessation of hostilities and the resumption of negotiations.

"Military pressure endangers the hostages, and there is nothing more urgent than the return of all hostages," state about 150 signatories of the letter, published before Netanyahu's video message.