Kathmandu, Oct 20 - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has confirmed that Israeli forces dropped 153 tons of bombs on Gaza on October 19, calling the operation a necessary response to what he described as Hamas’ violation of the ceasefire.
Addressing the Israeli Parliament, Netanyahu said,
“We hold weapons in one hand and an offer of peace in the other. Yet peace can only be achieved through strength. The complete destruction of Hamas is essential.”
Netanyahu emphasized that Israel today is “stronger than ever” and will continue military operations until Hamas’ military infrastructure is entirely dismantled.
Hamas, however, has denied launching any attacks, rejecting Israel’s justification for the airstrikes.
Ceasefire Violations and Civilian Toll
According to Gaza’s local authorities, Israel has violated the ceasefire at least 80 times since it began, resulting in 97 deaths and 230 injuries. Officials claim that many of the targeted areas had no Hamas presence.
Meanwhile, a senior U.S. official has urged Israel to provide humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza once active hostilities end, highlighting the growing international concern over civilian suffering.
Humanitarian Crisis Deepens
The ongoing conflict, which began in October 2023, has so far killed more than 68,200 people and left over 170,000 injured, according to international monitoring groups.
Gaza remains under severe humanitarian stress, with acute shortages of food, clean water, and medical supplies. Despite a declared ceasefire, both Israel and Hamas continue to accuse each other of repeated violations.
