Israel's military will enter Gaza "with full force" in the coming days and the government is working to find countries willing to take in Palestinians from the coastal enclave, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said.
"Eliminating Hamas and releasing all our hostages – it works together. That's how we do it," Mr Netanyahu told a group of injured soldiers at a meeting in his office on Monday.
"In the coming days, we are going in with full force to complete the operation. Completing the operation means defeating Hamas. It means destroying Hamas," a statement from his office quoted Mr Netanyahu as saying.
"Now the forces are there. Hamas may say 'Enough – we want to release 10 more'. OK, bring them. We'll take them, and then we'll enter."
He insisted "there will be no situation where we stop the war. A temporary ceasefire might happen but we are going all the way."
He said his government is working on finding countries to take in Palestinians from Gaza.
"We've set up an administration that will allow them [Gazans] to leave but ... we need countries willing to take them in. That's what we're working on right now," Mr Netanyahu said.
According to the statement, the Prime Minister estimates that "over 50 per cent will leave" Gaza if given the option.
"If you give them the go-ahead, I'm telling you that more than 50 per cent will go out – and I think much more. But Hamas won't be there," he said.
Mr Netanyahu's remarks came a day after Hamas released US-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander, who had been kidnapped during the attack on southern Israel in October 7, 2023 that triggered the war.
Israel's Prime Minister had credited a combination of military pressure on Hamas and the political pressure exerted by US President Donald Trump with Mr Alexander's release.
However, Hamas on Tuesday rejected his claim, saying the return of the captive was "the result of serious communications with the US administration and the efforts of mediators, not a consequence of Israeli aggression or the illusion of military pressure".
Israel resumed its military operations in Gaza on March 18 after a two-month truce in its war against Hamas.
Israel has also blocked food, medicine, fuel and other supplies from entering Gaza since March 2, claiming it is trying to press Hamas into releasing hostages and disarming.
The Hamas-led attack on southern Israel resulted in the deaths of about 1,200 people, mostly civilians.
Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed more than 52,900 Palestinians, many of them women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not say how many of the dead were combatants or civilians.
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- Mastery of audio-visual content creation.
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UK's plans to cut net migration
Under the UK government’s proposals, migrants will have to spend 10 years in the UK before being able to apply for citizenship.
Skilled worker visas will require a university degree, and there will be tighter restrictions on recruitment for jobs with skills shortages.
But what are described as "high-contributing" individuals such as doctors and nurses could be fast-tracked through the system.
Language requirements will be increased for all immigration routes to ensure a higher level of English.
Rules will also be laid out for adult dependants, meaning they will have to demonstrate a basic understanding of the language.
The plans also call for stricter tests for colleges and universities offering places to foreign students and a reduction in the time graduates can remain in the UK after their studies from two years to 18 months.
THE SIXTH SENSE
Starring: Bruce Willis, Toni Collette, Hayley Joel Osment
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Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
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- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
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Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor Cricket World Cup – Sep 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side
8 There are eight players per team
9 There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.
5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls
4 Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership
Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.
Zones
A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs
B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run
C Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs
D Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full
MATCH INFO
Manchester United v Manchester City, Wednesday, 11pm (UAE)
Match is on BeIN Sports
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MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
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'Ghostbusters: From Beyond'
Director: Jason Reitman
Starring: Paul Rudd, Carrie Coon, Finn Wolfhard, Mckenna Grace
Rating: 2/5