Ceasefire in Gaza only after Hamas is destroyed, says Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant

Israel has said there will be no ceasefire till it accomplishes its mission to destroy Hamas and dismantle its military and governance capabilities. “We will not cease the fire or stop fighting as long as we have hostages in Gaza. And as long as we haven’t completed our mission which is to destroy Hamas, and dismantle its military and governance capabilities,” Israel’s defence minister Yoav Gallant said. The minister’s comments echo Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who also insisted Thursday that there would be “no ceasefire” without the release of hostages held by Hamas. Israeli military has announced four-hour periodic pauses in areas of northern Gaza to allow civilians to evacuate south. Gallant stressed that the daily four-hour pauses by the Israeli military are limited measures to allow civilians to flee. “We’re carrying specific moves to allow the exit of Palestinian civilians from Gaza City to the south, to avoid hurting them. These do not affect the fighting,” he said. Gallant said Israeli troops are operating “in the heart of Gaza City" and are “very close to the Gaza port.” Israeli forces have started using “new methods” to destroy underground tunnels used by Hamas, Gallant said, without providing more information. With inputs from agencies