But Netanyahu told lawmakers from his Likud party that the war was far from over and dismissed media speculation that his government might halt the offensive. He said that without military pressure, Israel would not be able to free the remaining hostages.
?We will not stop. “The war will continue until the end, until we are finished, and not before?” the prime minister said, defying international calls for a ceasefire.
At a funeral in the Gaza Strip, a number of Palestinians touched white shrouds that wrapped the bodies of at least 70 people who died in an airstrike on Maghazi in the center of the territory, according to health authorities in the enclave.
One man, Ibrahim Youssef, said his wife and four children, including a fourmonthold baby, were buried in the rubble of their base in the city: “What did they do wrong?” Where were the resistance fighters here?
In his Christmas message, Pope Francis said that children who die in wars like the one in Gaza are “the Jesus of today.” and that the Israeli bombings bring “a terrible harvest.” innocent civilians.
The Israeli military said it was reviewing its report on the Maghazi incident and was determined to minimize damage to civilians. Israel accuses Hamas of operating in densely populated areas and using civilians as human shields. Hamas denies this.