This is a new ultimatum from Israel to Hamas. Israeli Minister Benny Gantz, a member of Benjamin Netanyahu's war cabinet, warned on Sunday that the Jewish state would launch an attack, specifically against the city of Rafah, if Israeli hostages held in Gaza are not released by Ramadan.

“The world must know and Hamas leaders must know: By Ramadan, if the hostages are not at home, fighting will continue everywhere, including in the Rafah area,” the former head of Hamas declared the Israeli military.

The holy month begins on 10th March

“To those who say the price is too high, let me be clear: Hamas has a choice. They can surrender, the hostages can be released and the people of Gaza can celebrate the Ramadan holiday,” he said in a speech to a conference of leaders of major American Jewish organizations in Jerusalem. The Muslim holy month of Ramadan begins on March 10.

Despite calls from a section of the international community, Benjamin Netanyahu's government is determined to launch an offensive against Rafah, a city of 1.4 million people backed by Egypt's closed border. Most of the displaced people live in very difficult conditions. Benny Gantz, on the other hand, confirmed that an attack would be carried out in a coordinated manner and within the framework of the dialogue with the Americans and the Egyptians, to reduce “as much as possible” by “facilitating the evacuation of civilians”. Number of victims in their ranks.

Our file on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict

The Hamas Health Ministry reported that 127 people were killed in 24 hours after Israeli bombardment hit the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah and Khan Yunis, as well as Palestinian areas a few kilometers away. On Sunday.