Israeli President Isaac Herzog has emphasized that the Hamas militant group is actively attempting to sow discord and promote hatred between Jewish and Arab citizens during the ongoing conflict. In his address on Wednesday night, he stressed the need to staunchly combat such efforts to eradicate enmity, racism, and violence within Israeli society. President Herzog also recognized the crucial role played by Arab citizens in Israel and acknowledged the sacrifices made by many Arab citizens in various capacities, including the security forces and the IDF.
Furthermore, Herzog warned against what he termed a "psychological campaign" aimed at intimidating Israel through the dissemination of videos, rumors, and falsehoods. He asserted that such efforts would not succeed. The President reiterated that the return of hostages remains an integral part of the campaign's success, alongside achieving victory in the decisive conflict against the enemy and restoring security to all Israeli citizens.
Herzog's address followed an attack on the Jabaliya refugee camp in Gaza, the largest in the enclave, for the second consecutive day. The Israeli Defense Forces confirmed that they targeted a Hamas command and control complex in the Falluja neighborhood of Jabaliya. They reported the elimination of Hamas terrorists in the strike and emphasized that Hamas intentionally places its terror infrastructure near civilian buildings, endangering Gazan civilians. The IDF also called for civilians in the area to evacuate, echoing a broader call for civilians in northern Gaza to move to the southern part of the enclave.
After the attack on Wednesday, the director of Gaza's Indonesian hospital, Atef Al Kahlout, reported that at least 80 bodies were brought to the facility, with more casualties being recovered from the debris. The majority of the casualties were women and children, and hundreds more were injured. The previous Israeli strike on the Jabalya refugee camp on Tuesday also resulted in a significant number of casualties, although Israel maintained that it targeted and killed a top Hamas commander, a claim disputed by Hamas, which denied the presence of its leader in the camp.
(With Agency Inputs)
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