Enes Canli
16 October 2023•Update: 16 October 2023
JERUSALEM
- Israeli Prime Minister's Office denies reports that cease-fire agreement reached with Hamas in exchange for removal of foreign nationals
- Hamas also announces Egypt has not contacted it regarding opening of Rafah border crossing
Israeli Energy Minister Israel Katz on Monday expressed support for the proposal of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and US President Joe Biden to restore water supply to the south of the Gaza Strip, thereby pushing civilians there and making it easier for the country's forces to destroy Hamas infrastructure.
With this step, Israel will be able to tighten the general siege of the Gaza Strip, Katz stated in his social media posts on X, rejecting any proposal to ease the blockade and allow any food and humanitarian supplies to the Palestinians in Gaza.
He supports Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Biden's agreement to supply water to the southern Gaza region because it is also in Israel's interest, Katz said in a Hebrew-language posts, adding that once civilians are in the south, it will be easier for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to operate and destroy Hamas infrastructure.
Katz also expressed strong opposition to lifting the blockade and allowing goods into Gaza on humanitarian grounds, stating that their commitment is to the families of the murdered and kidnapped hostages of Israel, not to the "Hamas murderers and those who aided them."
International pressure on Israel to restore water supply continues to mount, with Tel Aviv adhering to its stance of not allowing any food and other humanitarian assistance.
Meanwhile, the Israeli Prime Minister's Office has denied reports that a cease-fire agreement was reached with Hamas in exchange for the removal of foreign nationals in Gaza or that an agreement was reached for the entry of humanitarian aid.
On the other hand, Hamas also announced that Egypt has not contacted it regarding the opening of the Rafah border crossing.
Ten days into the conflict with Palestinian group Hamas, Israeli bombardment and blockade of the Gaza Strip has continued, with over 1 million people – almost half the total population of Gaza – having been displaced.
Gaza is experiencing a dire humanitarian crisis with no electricity, while water, food, fuel, and medical supplies are running out, as civilians flee to the south following Israeli warning to evacuate northern areas.
The fighting began when Hamas on Oct. 7 initiated Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, a multi-pronged surprise attack including a barrage of rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel via land, sea, and air. It said the incursion was in retaliation for the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and increased settler violence.
The Israeli military then launched Operation Swords of Iron against Hamas targets within the Gaza Strip.
The number of Palestinians killed in Israeli airstrikes in Gaza has risen to 2,750, including 750 children.
In Israel, 1,300 have been killed.
*Writing by Esra Tekin in Istanbul
