Israel to continue Gaza attacks despite prisoner swap talks

Israel will not halt its offensive in Gaza despite an agreement on a prisoner swap in indirect negotiations with Hamas, an Israeli official said.

The statement came from an Israeli official familiar with the talks who spoke to the Times of Israel.

According to the official, the Israeli government is determined not to halt its offensive in Gaza as part of any prisoner exchange deal.

The official also added that Israel is prepared to launch a ground offensive on Rafah, whether or not the attacks are temporarily halted as part of the prisoner exchange.

Israel has given Hamas a one-week ultimatum to accept a prisoner swap, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing unnamed Egyptian officials.

Should Hamas fail to comply, Israel threatened to launch a ground offensive in Rafah.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated on April 30 that Israel would attack Rafah regardless of the prisoner swap deal.

Israeli military actions in the Gaza Strip since Oct. 7 have killed at least 34,654 Palestinians, including 14,944 children and 9,849 women, and wounded 77,908 others. Amid ongoing conflict, thousands of casualties remain trapped under rubble, while civilian infrastructure such as hospitals and schools, often used as shelters, continue to be targeted and destroyed.

Source: AA