Netanyahu blames Hamas for civilian casualties

Jerusalem (Uttam Hindu News): Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in response to French President Emmanuel Macron’s remarks, said that the responsibility for harming civilians lies with the Palestinian movement Hamas, not Israel. Earlier, Macron had said that there is no legitimacy to Israel’s attacks on the Gaza Strip. “The responsibility for any harm caused to civilians lies with Hamas… not Israel,” the Prime Minister’s Office quoted Netanyahu on Twitter as saying.

”The prime minister said Israel is making every possible effort to avoid harming civilians and asking them to leave fighting areas, while Hamas is trying to prevent them from moving to safe areas and force them to leave. Using humans as shields. On October 7, the Palestinian group Hamas launched a surprise massive rocket attack against Israel from the Gaza Strip and breached the border, killing and abducting people from neighboring Israeli communities. Israel launched retaliatory attacks and ordered a complete blockade of the Gaza Strip, cutting off supplies of water, food and fuel.

On October 27, Israel launched a large-scale ground incursion inside Gaza with the stated goal of eliminating Hamas and rescuing hostages. The escalation of the conflict has killed approximately 1,400 more Israelis, according to the latest official figures reported by both sides. More than 10,500 people have died in the Gaza Strip.