Israel expects tough new stage in Gaza, sticks to battle goals

JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israel expects tough combating within the new part of its battle in Gaza however is open to “constructive suggestions” on lowering hurt to civilians so long as the recommendation is in step with its goal of destroying Hamas, a authorities spokesperson stated on Tuesday.

“We’re shifting forward with the second stage now. A second stage that’s going to be tough militarily,” spokesperson Eylon Levy instructed reporters.

Israeli forces have begun working within the southern space of the Hamas-run Gaza Strip, the place the inhabitants has been swollen by round 1 million refugees from northern areas and has confronted heavy worldwide strain, together with from Washington, to restrict civilian casualties.

“Any constructive suggestions that we get, any critical army strategic recommendation about tips on how to goal Hamas whereas minimizing hurt to civilians, we’ll in fact point out,” Levy stated.

However he stated the recommendation needed to be in step with the goal of destroying the Palestinians militant group.

“We’re going to proceed with our marketing campaign to destroy Hamas, a marketing campaign that america sees eye to eye with us in regards to the strategic aims of this battle, that this battle can not finish with Hamas nonetheless standing,” he stated.

Levy stated Israel was making many efforts to cut back hurt to civilians. “We did not decide the battlefield, Hamas picked the battlefield,” he stated.