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©(Photo by AFP)
On the 107th day of the conflict between Hamas and Israel, Hamas issued a document outlining its perspective on the events of October 7 and urging an end to what it termed "Israeli aggression." Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected Hamas's demand for "surrender."
Palestinian militant group Hamas on Sunday defended its October 7 attacks against Israel but admitted to "faults" and called for an end to "Israeli aggression" in Gaza, where the Health ministry said the death toll passed 25,000.
In its first public report on the attacks that began the war, Hamas said they were a "necessary step" against Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories, and a way to secure release of Palestinian prisoners.
[readmore url="https://thisisbeirut.com.lb/world/218928"]
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later vowed "complete victory" and said his government would not accept Hamas's conditions for releasing hostages still held in Gaza.
Hamas's 16-page report admitted "some faults happened... due to the rapid collapse of the Israeli security and military system, and the chaos caused along the border areas".
The Israeli army announced the death of another soldier in the October 7 attacks and said his body remains in Gaza.
Hamas said in the report that its fighters were committed to "Islamic values", and if civilians were targeted "it happened accidentally and in the course of the confrontation with the occupation forces."
It called for Israel to be held "legally accountable" for Palestinian suffering and urged "popular pressure around the world until ending the occupation".
[readmore url="https://thisisbeirut.com.lb/world/218832"]
Netanyahu is under intense pressure to return the hostages and account for security failings surrounding the October 7 attacks.
Relatives and supporters of the hostages on Sunday again rallied for their return home, near Netanyahu's residence in Jerusalem.
In a video statement released after the Hamas report, Netanyahu said that "in exchange for the release of our hostages, Hamas demands an end to the war, the withdrawal of our forces from Gaza", the release of Palestinian prisoners and guarantees that Hamas would stay in power.
"If we accept this, our soldiers have fallen in vain," and security would not be guaranteed, Netanyahu said.
United Nations agencies have warned of famine and disease as Gazans, 1.7 million of whom are displaced, struggle with shortages of water, medical care and other essentials during daily bombardment.
[readmore url="https://thisisbeirut.com.lb/world/218777"]
Diplomatic efforts have sought scaled-up aid deliveries for Gaza, and a truce, after a week-long cessation of hostilities in November saw Hamas release dozens of hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
On Sunday, 260 humanitarian aid trucks were transferred to Gaza, according to COGAT, the Israeli defense ministry body responsible for Palestinian civilian affairs.
Palestinian militant group Hamas on Sunday defended its October 7 attacks against Israel but admitted to "faults" and called for an end to "Israeli aggression" in Gaza, where the Health ministry said the death toll passed 25,000.
In its first public report on the attacks that began the war, Hamas said they were a "necessary step" against Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories, and a way to secure release of Palestinian prisoners.
[readmore url="https://thisisbeirut.com.lb/world/218928"]
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later vowed "complete victory" and said his government would not accept Hamas's conditions for releasing hostages still held in Gaza.
Hamas's 16-page report admitted "some faults happened... due to the rapid collapse of the Israeli security and military system, and the chaos caused along the border areas".
Dead hostages
The Israeli army announced the death of another soldier in the October 7 attacks and said his body remains in Gaza.
Hamas said in the report that its fighters were committed to "Islamic values", and if civilians were targeted "it happened accidentally and in the course of the confrontation with the occupation forces."
It called for Israel to be held "legally accountable" for Palestinian suffering and urged "popular pressure around the world until ending the occupation".
[readmore url="https://thisisbeirut.com.lb/world/218832"]
Netanyahu is under intense pressure to return the hostages and account for security failings surrounding the October 7 attacks.
Relatives and supporters of the hostages on Sunday again rallied for their return home, near Netanyahu's residence in Jerusalem.
In a video statement released after the Hamas report, Netanyahu said that "in exchange for the release of our hostages, Hamas demands an end to the war, the withdrawal of our forces from Gaza", the release of Palestinian prisoners and guarantees that Hamas would stay in power.
"If we accept this, our soldiers have fallen in vain," and security would not be guaranteed, Netanyahu said.
Famine and disease
United Nations agencies have warned of famine and disease as Gazans, 1.7 million of whom are displaced, struggle with shortages of water, medical care and other essentials during daily bombardment.
[readmore url="https://thisisbeirut.com.lb/world/218777"]
Diplomatic efforts have sought scaled-up aid deliveries for Gaza, and a truce, after a week-long cessation of hostilities in November saw Hamas release dozens of hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
On Sunday, 260 humanitarian aid trucks were transferred to Gaza, according to COGAT, the Israeli defense ministry body responsible for Palestinian civilian affairs.
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