Israeli PM says there ‘is no alternative to victory’; al-Shifa hospital says babies are dying as power lost and WHO loses contact with staff
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Reports are still emerging that senior Israeli officials are cautiously optimistic that a hostage deal has become likelier.
Reuters reports that Israel’s three major TV news channels, without citing named sources, said there was some progress toward a deal to free hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.
The Israeli leader also insisted that after the war, now entering its sixth week, Gaza would be demilitarized and Israel would retain security control there. Asked what he meant by security control, Netanyahu said Israeli forces must be able to enter Gaza freely to hunt down militants.
He also rejected the idea that the Palestinian Authority, which currently administers autonomous areas in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, would at some stage control Gaza.
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