Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said world leaders should condemn militant organization Hamas and not his country’s for the ongoing war in Gaza that has left a trail of destruction.
Netanyahu said his country was doing everything to protect Gaza citizens but Hamas was preventing them from leaving for safe zones.
He also said that the group is using them as human shields.
"While Israel is doing everything to refrain from harming civilians and calling on them to leave areas of fighting, Hamas-ISIS is doing everything to prevent them from leaving for safe areas and is using them as human shields," Netanyahu said in a statement.
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11000 Palestinians have died in Israel's attacks since October 7, Gaza's health officials have said.
Earlier, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who was on a visit to India, said: "Far too many Palestinians have been killed; far too many have suffered these past weeks."
However, he reiterated US support for Israel's war against terrorism.
French president Emmanuel Macron also said that Israel must stop bombing Gaza and killing civilians. He, however, "recognised" Israel's right to protect itself.
Netanyahu responded to his remark saying world leaders should condemn Hamas, not Israel.
"These crimes that Hamas (is) committing today in Gaza will be committed tomorrow in Paris, New York and anywhere in the world," Netanyahu said.
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Meanwhile, fighting intensified near Gaza's hospitals. "Israel is now launching a war on Gaza City hospitals," said Mohammad Abu Selmeyah, director of Al Shifa hospital.
Israeli government spokesperson Eylon Levy said that the hospital had Hamas headquarters in its basement; hence, it has become a legitimate target.
Over reports that Israel was shooting at hospitals, Israeli army spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Richard Hecht said they don't shoot at hospitals. However, he said, if terrorists fire from hospitals, "we'll do what we need to do"
"We're aware of the sensitivity (of hospitals), but again, if we see Hamas terrorists, we'll kill them," he added.
The Israel Defence Forces have claimed that the attack on Gaza's Shifa hospital was accidentally carried out by the Hamas terror group.
