'Civilians Not Our Enemy': Israel Says Hamas Stopping Gazans From Evacuating, Holding 120 Hostages
Israel Military spokesperson on Saturday said that Palestine civilians in Gaza are not Israel's enemy and hence they have been asked to move from areas where Hamas is operating.
Israel-Hamas War: Israel Defence Forces (IDF) on Saturday confirmed that Hamas militants have held 120 civilians hostage in the Gaza Strip as the battle continues on the eighth day. Hamas had earlier threatened Israel that it would kill captives if the latter did not stop violent actions in Gaza. The Jewish country reacted saying the hostage situation will not make things better for the Palestinian militant group. The war so far claimed the lives of 3,200 people and wounded another 3,000 so far.
Meanwhile, IDF spokesperson Jonathan Conricus gave an update on the current situation on Saturday in a video post on X, formerly known as Twitter. He said that residents of northern Gaza should move to the southern part of the region to not be caught in the crossfire.
"We do this, we advertised this in advance not because it has any military logic, it doesn't. Because we don't want civilians to be affected by the war", adding "We didn't put those civilians there. They are not our enemy. We are not trying to kill or injure any civilians. We are fighting against Hamas. That needs to be abundantly clear. We are targeting their infrastructure - wherever it is."
Listen in as an IDF Spokesperson @jconricus provides a situational update as the war against Hamas continues. https://t.co/UeIUKgRJGu
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 14, 2023
Conricus said that the IDF will inform Gaza residents when it is safe to return to the northern area of the Strip. He further said that Conricus also stated that IDF reservists are preparing for the next stage of operations around the Gaza Strip to fire on Hamas targets.
"Our aim is very clear. The end state of this war is that we will dismantle Hamas and its military capability and fundamentally change the situation so that Hamas never again has the ability to inflict any damage on Israeli soldiers or civilians," he said.
He said Israel's focus is on the Gaza City and northern Gaza where Hamas are primarily operating from. He said Hamas is trying to stop civilians from leaving the attack area in Gaza.
Israel forces have claimed to have killed militants, who were infiltrating from the Lebanon border side, in a drone strike.
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