Israel says it will continue the Gaza conflict until hostages are released

Hamas is said to be holding almost 136 hostages following its October 7 attack.

Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz warned Wednesday that Tel Aviv will continue its war on the Gaza Strip until Hamas releases its hostages.

Speaking before of a meeting with British Foreign Secretary David Cameron, Katz described the Gaza offensive as a “war of necessity” against Hamas and the Iranian axis.

“We will not stop until the release of all our hostages and the dismantling of Hamas’s military and civil capabilities – in Gaza and in every place,” he said in a statement.

Cameron landed in Israel on Wednesday as part of a Middle East visit that also covers the West Bank, Qatar, and Turkey, to press for an immediate humanitarian pause in the Gaza Strip conflict.

Following Hamas’ cross-border strike on October 7, Israel conducted an offensive in the Gaza Strip, killing about 25,700 people. Around 1,200 Israelis are thought to have been killed in the Hamas strike. Hamas is thought to hold about 136 hostages.

According to the UN, the Israeli offensive has internally displaced 85% of Gaza’s population, resulting in critical shortages of food, potable water, and medication, while more than half of the enclave’s infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed.