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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that his military offensive will press ahead across the whole territory including in Rafah, where two million people have sought shelter, despite mounting international criticism of the war.
"Whoever tells us not to operate in Rafah is telling us to lose the war and that will not happen," Netanyahu said in a speech at an Israeli army cadet graduation ceremony in southern Israel on Thursday afternoon.
The premier noted the rising global calls for Israel to row back its offensive over concerns about the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, where a quarter of the population are believed to be in famine-like conditions.
"There is international pressure and it’s growing, but particularly when the international pressure rises, we must close ranks, we need to stand together against the attempts to stop the war," he said.
Meanwhile, Hamas issued a strong rebuke to Israel's demands during ceasefire talks which will resume next week after the delegation left Cairo for Doha on Thursday.
Senior Hamas official, Sami Abu Zuhri said that Israel was rejecting Hamas' demands to end its offensive in the enclave, withdraw its forces, ensure freedom of entry for aid and the return of displaced people.
On the 153rd day of the war, the death toll from the war stands at 30,800 Palestinians killed and 72,298 injured in Gaza, according to the latest figures from the health ministry.
Featured images: Getty