Netanyahu's office: 'Israel will exert maximum pressure on Hamas'

Israel will exert maximum pressure on Hamas by all possible means. This was reported to TASS by Dmitry Gendelman, an adviser to the Israeli Prime Minister's Office, commenting on the publication of The Wall Street Journal that the Israeli authorities are planning a large-scale ground operation in the Gaza Strip.

"Israel will take all possible measures to free the hostages and will exert maximum pressure on Hamas so that all hostages return home as soon as possible," Gendelman said.

According to the source, the leadership of the Jewish state believes that control over a significant part of the Palestinian enclave will allow achieving a final victory over the radical Hamas movement.

On March 18, the Israeli army resumed military operations in Gaza, launching large-scale air strikes on the enclave. Netanyahu's office explained this by saying that Hamas had rejected the proposals of the mediators and the US President's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, noting that the goal of the operation in the Gaza Strip was to free all hostages.