WORLD NEWS FOR MONTENEGRO DIASPORA
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AUTHOR:M.J. GDNUS
Israel aims to capture Hamas's two remaining strongholds in its new offensive on Gaza, which it hopes will be completed "fairly quickly" and end the war, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday.
Netanyahu outlined his vision for victory in Gaza over Hamas - which the US and EU consider a terrorist organisation - at a news conference in Jerusalem after criticism at home and abroad, including from several European countries, over plans to expand military operations and take control of Gaza city.
He said Israel had no choice but to finish the job and defeat Hamas, given the group's refusal to lay down its arms. Hamas says it will not disarm until an independent Palestinian state is established.
Netanyahu said the army had been given the green light to destroy Hamas' two remaining strongholds in Gaza city and Al-Mawasi, further south.
"We have about 70 to 75 percent of Gaza under Israeli control, military control. But we have two remaining strongholds, okay? Those are Gaza City and the central camps in Al-Mawasi," Netanyahu told reporters.
"The Israeli security cabinet has ordered the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) to destroy the two remaining Hamas strongholds in Gaza City and the central camps," he added.
Netanyahu said "this is the best way to end the war and the best way to end it quickly."
He said Israel was working to increase aid distribution in a "humanitarian wave" coordinated with Washington as its forces prepare to move into Gaza.
"The timeframe we have set for the action is quite short. We want, first of all, to enable the establishment of safe zones so that the civilian population of Gaza City can evacuate," he added.
Netanyahu said the aim of the operations was to be carried out in a short period of time, but offered few details about how long the offensive would last.
"I don't want to talk about exact timelines, but we are talking about a fairly short timeframe, because we want to end the war. This is how we will end the war," the Israeli prime minister said.
Asked about the growing criticism from foreign governments in recent days - including from staunch ally Germany, which has announced plans to halt arms deliveries - Netanyahu said Israel was prepared to go it alone if necessary.
"We will win the war, with or without the support of others," he told reporters.
Thousands of people took to the streets of Tel Aviv on Saturday night to call for an end to the war in the Gaza Strip, a day after the Israeli government announced it would expand the conflict and seize Gaza City.
Foreign powers, including some of Israel's allies, have been pushing for a negotiated ceasefire to secure the return of hostages and help ease the humanitarian crisis in the Strip.
In a joint statement, nine countries, including Germany, Britain, France and Canada, said they "strongly reject" Israel's decision to launch a major military operation, saying it would worsen the "catastrophic humanitarian situation", endanger hostages and further risk mass displacement. They also said any attempt to annex or settle in Gaza violates international law.
In a statement, more than 20 countries, including ceasefire brokers Egypt and Qatar, along with Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates, called Israel's move a "dangerous and unacceptable escalation". Russia said the Israeli plan would worsen "the already extremely dramatic situation" in Gaz
