“It’s time for war” – Israel rejects calls for ceasefire with Hamas

Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has authoritatively rejected calls for a ceasefire with Hamas, as Israeli troops continued to expand operations on the ground.

“Just as the United States will not agree to a ceasefire after the bombing of Pearl Harbor or after the terrorist attack of 9/11,” Netanyahu declared.

“Israel will not agree to a cessation of hostilities with Hamas after the horrific attacks of October 7.

“Calls for a ceasefire are calls for Israel to surrender to Hamas, to surrender to terrorism, to surrender to barbarism. That will not happen.

“The Bible says that there is a time for peace and a time for war. This is a time for war, a war for a common future,” Netanyahu told journalists.

He called on all civilized nations to stand with Israel in demanding the immediate and unconditional release of the hostages and in drawing a line between the forces of civilization and the forces barbarism.

“It is a time for everyone to decide where they stand,” Netanyahu said.

Earlier on Monday, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said a female Israeli soldier taken hostage by Hamas on Oct. 7, was freed during the deployment of ground forces in the Gaza Strip.

“The soldier was medically checked, is doing well, and has met with her family,” the IDF and the Israeli Security Agency (ISA) wrote on social media platform X, formerly Twitter, in a joint statement.

Israel’s army heralded a new phase in the war against the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, at the weekend.

In addition to massive airstrikes, Israeli ground forces advanced deeper into the territory.

Terrorists from Hamas carried out a massacre of civilians in Israel on October 7.

More than 1,400 people were killed in the massacre and in the following days.

At least 239 others were abducted to the Gaza Strip, according to the Israeli army, which believes most of the hostages to still be alive.

Another 40 people are still missing since the terrorist attacks.

According to Israeli sources, citizens of more than 40 countries are among those killed and missing.

Also Read: Hamas rocket hits residential apartment in Israel’s capital

According to the Hamas-controlled Ministry of Health in Gaza, 8,306 Palestinians had been killed by Monday in retaliatory airstrikes by Israel.

The al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of the Hamas movement, said they had fired anti-tank missiles at Israeli units in the Zeitoun district south-east of Gaza.