Israel to exert maximum pressure on Hamas, says advisor to prime minister

Israel plans to apply all possible means to exert maximum pressure on Hamas and secure the release of its hostages, said Dmitry Gendelman, an adviser to the Israeli Prime Minister.

Gendelman made the statement in response to a report from The Wall Street Journal, which speculated that Israel is preparing for a large-scale ground operation in the Gaza Strip, Caliber.Az reports per Russian media.

“Israel will take all possible measures to release all our hostages and will exert maximum pressure on Hamas so that all the kidnapped return home as soon as possible,” Gendelman noted.

The Wall Street Journal article outlined that Israel's leadership believes capturing and holding a significant portion of the Gaza Strip could lead to a decisive victory over the radical Hamas movement. According to the newspaper, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his inner circle are optimistic that the support of the new American administration, coupled with a weakening of the Shiite militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon, will provide the Israeli military with the necessary resources to conduct such a large-scale operation.

The conflict in Gaza escalated once again on March 18, as the Israeli army launched massive airstrikes on the enclave. Netanyahu's office attributed the resumption of hostilities to Hamas' refusal to engage in talks, which had been mediated by US president’s Special Envoy Steve Witkoff. The goal of the ongoing military operation, according to Israeli officials, is the release of all hostages held by Hamas.

In response, Hamas has placed blame on both Israel and the United States for the escalation in violence. The situation remains tense as the conflict between Israel and Hamas continues to unfold, with international calls for restraint and efforts to negotiate a ceasefire.

By Vafa Guliyeva