Benjamin Netanyahu has stated Israel is doing all it will possibly to minimise civilian casualties in Gaza however had “not been profitable”.
The Israeli prime minister was chatting with CBS when he made the feedback concerning the hundreds of reported deaths since his forces started their operation in opposition to Hamas.
Mr Netanyahu laid the blame for the civilian deaths squarely on the toes of the group which attacked Israel on 7 October.
He stated: “Any civilian demise is a tragedy. And we should not have any as a result of we’re doing the whole lot we will to get the civilians out of hurt’s method, whereas Hamas is doing the whole lot to maintain them in hurt’s method.
“So we ship leaflets, (we) name them on their cell telephones, and we are saying: ‘go away’. And plenty of have left.
“The opposite factor that I can say is that we’ll attempt to end that job with minimal civilian casualties. That is what we’re making an attempt to do. Minimal civilian casualties. However sadly, we’re not profitable.”
Hundreds of civilians are reported to have died throughout Israel’s weeks-long navy marketing campaign in response to the assault by Hamas that killed 1,200 folks with one other 240 being taken hostage.
A map of Gaza, Thursday 16 November
In the identical interview Mr Netanyahu stated there have been “sturdy indications” that among the hostages had been held in al Shifa hospital, however have been now not there when the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) entered the constructing.
On Thursday, IDF troopers continued looking out underground ranges of the hospital, Gaza’s largest, following a raid that started early on Wednesday.
Technicians liable for working the hospital gear have been detained, the well being ministry in Gaza stated in an announcement.
The navy launched footage from contained in the hospital exhibiting three duffle baggage allegedly discovered hidden round an MRI lab – every containing an assault rifle, grenades and Hamas uniforms.
Hamas-run well being authorities in Gaza declare not less than 11,500 folks have been killed throughout Israel’s ongoing operation, with greater than 4,700 of them kids.
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IDF footage reviewed by analyst
Two thirds of the Gaza Strip’s inhabitants of two.3 million have been made homeless by the war.
On Thursday, Israel’s air drive dropped leaflets in elements of southern Gaza telling folks to evacuate for their very own security.
Israel has additionally used leaflet drops in northern Gaza to warn civilians to maneuver.
Learn extra on Sky Information:
How does Hamas count those who have been killed?
Hezbollah’s leader threatens escalation
Stop killing women and babies in Gaza, Macron tells Israel
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IDF declare physique of hostage discovered
A whole bunch of hundreds have achieved so, in a mass displacement that some worry might develop into everlasting.
Tanks and troops crossed the border with northern Gaza on 26 October in what was described on the time because the “largest incursion” of the battle up to now, virtually three weeks after the 7 October Hamas attack.
Gaza has additionally skilled 4 mass communication outages because the ground invasion began.