“Within days, things are going to happen in Gaza — things you’ve never seen before,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the War Wounded Forum on Monday.
According to a handout, the prime minister met with wounded soldiers for an hour and a half and listened to the soldiers’ stories of heroism and injury.
Netanyahu’s statement comes after Israeli sources have signalled IDF readiness to expand combat operations in the Gaza Strip.
IDF to expand combat operations in Gaza after Alexander’s release
An Israeli official source told The Jerusalem Post that the moment Edan Alexander returns home, Israel will resume combat operations in Gaza.
The IDF had stopped operations in Gaza for the Israeli-American hostage’s safe crossing, but emphasized that it would resume combat as soon as he was in Israel.
Additionally, on Sunday, an Israeli official told the Post that Israel’s ultimatum to Hamas regarding the launch of a widened Gaza offensive is still in effect after Alexander’s release.
Israel previously gave Hamas a deadline to either release 10 hostages in exchange for a 45-day ceasefire or face a widened Gaza offensive.
“The plan includes… seizing and holding territory in Gaza, moving the Gazan population southward for their protection, preventing Hamas from distributing humanitarian aid, and launching powerful strikes against Hamas – all actions that will help bring about its defeat,” a senior political source told the Post.
