As the Israel-Hamas conflict marked its 100th day, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has committed to persisting with the military campaign in the Gaza Strip until achieving "total victory."
During a recent cabinet meeting, Netanyahu presented a 2024 budget proposal, seeking approval for tax increases and a uniform 3% reduction in the budgets of all government ministries to secure funding for the ongoing war against Hamas, as reported by Xinhua news agency. Despite mounting international calls to cease the conflict due to the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Netanyahu emphasized the necessity of covering war expenses and ensuring its completion.
Simultaneously, Israel awaited a ruling from the International Court of Justice in The Hague, potentially delivering a verdict against its extensive offensive in Gaza.
Initiated in response to the October 7, 2023, Hamas assault, Israel's relentless strikes in the densely-populated Palestinian enclave have resulted in a tragic toll. According to the Hamas-run government media office, at least 23,843 people have lost their lives, with approximately 75% of them being women, children, and the elderly. The strikes have displaced most of Gaza's 2.3 million population, leveling many parts of the territory.
Protests erupted in major Israeli cities, with thousands calling for the return of hostages and a change in government since Saturday.
During the October 7 rampage, Hamas militants killed about 1,200 people, including 790 civilians, and kidnapped over 200 people, with 132 still held in Gaza.
The Israeli military reported that since the war's onset, approximately 9,000 militants in Gaza have been killed. Additionally, clashes with Israeli forces on the Lebanon front resulted in the deaths of 170 militants from Hezbollah and Palestinian factions.
Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah stated on Sunday that his group "doesn't fear war, and there are no talks before the war on Gaza ends." According to Nasrallah, "Israel is mired in failure and is in a deep hole... It has not reached any of its declared and undeclared goals as unanimously stated by the Israelis themselves."
(With Agency Inputs)
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